Toyota 4-Runner Stolen in Raleigh Recovered Quickly with No Damage by NC DMV License and Theft
- January 12, 2012
- recovery stories
Vehicle: 2007 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER
Activation: RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT, December 29, 2011
Recovery: NC DMV LICENSE AND THEFT, December 29, 2011.
Dealership: LEITH TOYOTA – RALEIGH, NC
On December 29, 2011, the owner of a 2007 Toyota 4-Runner parked his vehicle in his assigned parking lot space at his condo complex and went inside his residence. Upon returning to the vehicle, the owner discovered the Toyota missing, and immediately contacted the Raleigh Police Department to report the vehicle stolen.
Raleigh Police responded to the scene, where they confirmed that all vehicle keys were accounted for, and found no signs of broken glass or forced entry, nor any witnesses or suspects. From there, the police prepared a stolen vehicle report and had the stolen vehicle information entered into the state and federal crime computers. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the Toyota and initiated the tracking of the vehicle.
Within an hour of the vehicle’s activation, a North Carolina DMV (NCDMV) Auto Theft Investigator was traveling in the Creedmoor Road area of north Raleigh. Near the intersection of Creedmoor and Millbrook Road, the NCDMV Investigator received the silent LoJack homing signal from the stolen Toyota on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in the agency’s patrol unit. Following the directional and audible signal of LoJack, the officer was led to the parking lot of an apartment complex off of Millbrook Road, where the Toyota was located. The officer set up surveilance on the Toyota, hoping the suspect(s) would return to the vehicle. When no one returned to the vehicle, the officer recovered the Toyota and called the owner to the recovery site to take possession of the vehicle. There was no damage to the vehicle’s door lock or ignition, leading officers to believe someone had gained access to a key. The owner was most grateful to have the vehicle returned without damage, in just an hour and a half.
The LoJack Vehicle Recovery System was installed in the Toyota 4-Runner at the owner’s request in November 2007.