Toyota Corolla Stolen at Gunpoint in San Bernardino Car-Jacking — Vehicle Recovered, Suspect Arrested
- February 24, 2012
- recovery stories
On the afternoon of February 9, 2012, a 2004 Toyota Corolla was stolen at gunpoint during a carjacking in San Bernardino, California. After the owners reported the theft to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office’s Victorville Station, the deputies entered the Toyota’s information in the state and federal crime databases. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the stolen Corolla, and initiated tracking of the vehicle.
Five minutes later, Long Beach Police Department officers picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Corolla on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in their patrol vehicle. Following the computer’s cues, the officers tracked the vehicle to the 100 block of East Willington Street, where they located the vehicle parked and unoccupied. They waited a while, and observed one male suspect unlock the vehicle, using keys, and drive away. When requested back-up units arrived, the officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop, taking the suspect into custody. The suspect claimed he obtained the vehicle from friends, and gave the officers their names. The suspect was arrested for car-jacking and Driving Without Owner’s Consent. Long Beach and San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office detectives are conducting the follow-up investigation.
This is the third time this Corolla has been stolen and recovered utilizing the LoJack Vehicle Recovery System.