LoJack System Helps the Durham Police Department Recover Stolen Lexus RX 300 with Two Arrests

  • July 12, 2019
  • Law Enforcement

In May 2019, the owner of a 2000 Lexus RX 300 contacted the Hillsborough Police Department to report their vehicle stolen from the driveway of the residence sometime during the night.  The owner believes there was a second set of keys in the vehicle. The Hillsborough Police Department verified the theft and entered the vehicle information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack® System concealed in the Lexus.  The Hillsborough Police Department also had reports of two additional vehicles being stolen and multiple vehicles being broken into during the night in the same residential area. 

After the vehicle was entered into the National Crime Computer Database, an Officer from Durham Police Department, Durham, NC, picked up the silent LoJack signal from the stolen Lexus with the LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) that are installed in patrol vehicles and aircraft.  Following the directional and audible cues from the PTC, the Officer tracked the vehicle and located it parked at a pawnshop. 

The Officer discovered the vehicle occupied and took two suspects into custody.  A search of the vehicle revealed items believed stolen from vehicles from some of the Hillsborough Police Department’s cases.  The suspects were arrested and charged with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle with possible additional charges.  Durham, NC is approximately 14 miles from Hillsborough, NC and investigators with both the Hillsborough PD and the Durham PD are looking into the case as a join investigation to determine if the suspects in this case are responsible for an epidemic of auto break-ins in the area.

The LoJack® System was installed in the Lexus in December 1999 at Lexus of Cerritos, Cerritos, California.