Monthly Update Report for August 2010
Southern California:
From: LoJack Corporation – Southern California Operations
During the month of August there were: 349 countable
“activations.”
Number of activations for this calendar year to date
Southern California (2010) = 2792
HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2010: LOJACK SAFETY NET FOR TRACKING PEOPLE AT RISK FOR WANDERING NOW AVAILABLE IN METRO LOS ANGELES AREA. TRAINING AND TRACKING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AT NO COST. CONTACT JOE DE ANDE, 909 263 0060 or jdeande@lojack.com LoJack of LOS ANGELES COUNTY: On 7-25-10, within four minutes of the LoJack system activating, LAPD 77th Street Officers picked up the LoJack signal from the victim's stolen 2005 Chevrolet Impala. They requested TRAP Detectives to assist. Upon arrival the TRAP detectives and officers were able to track the signal to a residential backyard located in the 9600 block of Harvard Street, where they observed the LoJack stolen vehicle and several other stolen vehicles. Their investigation found the LoJack stolen vehicle had been partially stripped and the parts were in the yard. They also recovered another stolen vehicle and engine to a third stolen vehicle. The suspects were utilizing their grandmother's house to strip the vehicles and were later arrested for 10801 VC (Operating a Chop Shop). TRAP Detectives along with 77th Street Detectives are conducting the investigating. On 8-1-10, within eleven minutes of the LoJack system activating, a Compton School PD officer picked up the LoJack signal from the victim's stolen 1999 GMC Yukon and put out a radio broadcast. A short distance away another unit heard the broadcast and observed the vehicle parked in front of a tire shop at Alameda Street and El Segundo Blvd. Before backup units arrived, they observed the vehicle drive away with one male suspect as the driver. The units attempted a high risk traffic stop but the suspect stopped the vehicle and left running towards a residential area. The suspect was zigzagging through the neighborhood yards, but was eventually taken into custody. The officers’ investigation found the suspect admitted to being paid to drive the stolen vehicle to the tire store and have the rims and tires removed. The suspect was using a screwdriver to start the vehicle. The suspect was arrested for 10851 VC (Driving without Owners consent) and several other related charges. Compton School Detectives are conducting the investigation. On 8-1-10, within two minutes of the LoJack system activating, LAPD Officers flying Air-3 picked up the LoJack signal from the victim's stolen 1997 Honda Accord. Air-3 directed Newton Division ground units to the vehicle's location. Air-3 observed the vehicle parked between a fence and garage in a rear yard of a residence located in the 3200 block of Morgan Street. As the ground units were deploying to the rear yard, the owner came out and identified him to the officers. The officers’ investigation found the owner was storing the vehicle for a friend, but knew the vehicle was stolen. The owner was arrested for 496 PC (Possession of Stolen Property). Newton Detectives are conducting the follow up investigation. On 8-3-2010 LASD Air 8 flight deputies were in the Pico Rivera area when they picked up the silent signal of a stolen 1998 Honda Civic taken from Burbank PD. They began tracking it and notified ground units if the information. A short time later, Azusa Pd had picked up the moving signal and notified Irwindale Pd officers that the vehicle might be headed into their area. At that time, one of the Irwindale units went to the area of the 210 Freeway and Vernon and picked up the signal, noting that it was moving west from his location. He quickly caught the vehicle on the freeway at which time the vehicle failed to yield and entered into a high speed pursuit. According to the officer, the suspects exited the freeway at Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia at a high speed and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle spun out and came to a stop. Two suspects bailed on foot from the vehicle as assisting units arrived. With the assistance of Air-8 and later El Monte Air-45, the driver was spotted jumping over a wall of a private residence and was apprehended by the Irwindale Pd officers. The area was cordoned off and a search for the passenger met with negative results. According to the handling officer, the suspect driver was wanted by Burbank Pd for other stolen vehicles and had an outstanding warrants for his arrest. The suspect was later booked on numerous felony charges and the vehicle stored with only a minor dent in a fender noted. On 8-9-2010, officers from LAPD Northeast Division entered a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo as stolen into SVS/ NCIC. Within minutes of entry, Officers from the LAPD Hollenbeck Division picked up the silent LoJack signal, tracked and located the vehicle parked to the rear of the 5200 block Ithaca Ave. in an alley noting it was unoccupied. These officers contacted a special unit called GTA car and set up a surveillance plan. At approximately 0150 hrs 8-10-2010, the vehicle was observed exiting the alley occupied by a male driver and a female passenger. Officers began following the vehicle waiting for back up units to arrive and followed it until it drove into a large self serve service station at Eastern Ave. and Huntington Drive. At that point, the officers deployed on the vehicle, taking the driver and passenger into custody without further incident. At the scene the officers were told by the male driver that his passenger had no knowledge the vehicle was stolen and after being advised of his rights and waiving them, he admitted he had stolen the vehicle. The female was released at the scene and the driver suspect later booked for VC 10851 DWOC. The owner of the vehicle responded to the scene and the vehicle was released undamaged. On 8-16-10, within twenty-one minutes of the LoJack system activating, TRAP Detectives picked up the LoJack signal from the victim's stolen 2005 Mercedes E500. They tracked it to a motel parking lot located in the 3600 block of Pacific Coast highway. They requested addition Long Beach units to assist. While waiting for the units to arrive, they observed a female suspect standing next to the passenger door. They then observed a male suspect enter the driver's door and drive away. The female suspect followed in another vehicle. The responding Long Beach units observed the stolen vehicle and attempted a high risk traffic stop, but the suspect sped away with the officers close behind. The female suspect, turned away and was stopped by other responding units. The male suspect lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an iron fence. The suspect exited the vehicle out the driver's window and fled on foot and was caught as he attempted to enter a business. The suspect was eventually taken into custody. The Detectives’ investigation discovered the female suspect knew the victim and there was a discrepancy in how the male suspect acquired the vehicle. The male suspect was wanted for parole violation. The female suspect was questioned and released and the male suspect was arrested on a variety of charges. Trap and Long Beach Detectives are conducting the investigation. On 8-23-10, Long Beach PD officers picked up the LoJack signal from the victim's stolen 1997 Honda Accord. They requested TRAP Detectives to respond to the location. When the TRAP Detectives arrived they tracked the signal to an auto repair business in the 1500 block of Cowles Street. The business appeared closed. While waiting for additional units to arrive, they observed a suspect standing next to the stolen vehicle now parked in the alley. The suspect had moved the stolen vehicle out of the business. They detained the suspect and discovered that he worked in the business. He admitted to being out with a friend who had stolen the vehicle and the friend asked the suspect to store the vehicle in his business. The suspect was arrested for 496 PC (receiving Stolen Property). The officers and detectives quick response prevented the vehicle from being stripped out at the suspect's business. Trap Detectives are conducting the investigation. On 8-26-2010, a detective from the Los Angeles County Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention was traveling S/B on the 710 freeway near the 105 Freeway when he picked up the silent LoJack signal of a stolen 2004 Jaguar S-Type that had been entered minutes earlier by LASD Industry Station. With the assistance of LASD Air-8, the vehicle was tracked and located in a motel parking lot at 105th St. and Broadway in the city of Los Angeles containing two females. With the assistance of an LAPD officer, the suspects were detained without further incident. The driver was questioned by the detective and admitted taking the vehicle from the victim who she had been dating. The victim was contacted and advised that he never gave permission for the suspect to take or drive the vehicle. The victim indicated he had been in an argument with the suspect who pushed him against a wall causing him to drop the vehicle keys. At that point, the suspect picked up the keys, jumped in the vehicle and drove off. The driver suspect was then taken to LASD Century station where she was booked VC 10851 DWOC. At that time the detective learned the suspect also had a $50,000 warrant for her arrest on a prostitution charge. The second suspect was released at the scene. The vehicle was later stored and returned to the victim, undamaged. LoJack of ORANGE COUNTY: On 8-1-2010, officers from the Santa Ana Pd picked up the silent LoJack signal from a stolen 2002 Mercedes taken from a residence in Orange County. Within less than an hour from the activation of the signal, the officers had tracked and located the vehicle parked in a motel parking lot on East 1st in Santa Ana. The vehicle was unoccupied so the officers made contact with the motel manager and learned that an occupant in room #246 had driven up in the vehicle the night before. Utilizing a female officer disguising her voice as the motel manager, the suspect was requested to come move his Mercedes so the Motel could work on the parking lot. Within a few minutes, the suspect exited the room, entered and began moving his car. At this point, officers converged on the suspect taking him into custody without further incident. The officers learned that this suspect was the son of the victim and had taken the vehicle without permission. They also learned that he had search and seizure provisions as he was on felony probation for drugs. They searched his room and located drugs and a stolen credit card. He was arrested and booked into the County Jail pending felony charges. The vehicle was later returned to the owner, undamaged. On 8-23-2010, the owner of a 2002 Mini Cooper drove to Newport Beach to surf. He placed his keys on top of his tire and went surfing. When he returned, his Mini Cooper had been stolen. Within a few minutes after reporting the Mini Cooper stolen to Newport Beach Pd, Orange County Sheriffs flight deputies in Air Duke-1 picked up the silent signal of the stolen Mini Cooper and tracked it to the city of Santa Ana where they alerted ground units to respond to the area of 1800 block of Parton St. Ground units pinpointed the vehicle and located it parked at the curb line. No suspects were seen at this time so they began to recover the car when they observed a male come out of a residence. They contacted this male and were told that a female known to him drove up in the car a short time ago and she lived in back of his home. The deputies contacted this female and questioned her about the vehicle. She admitted driving the car and that a friend had asked her to drive the car. The suspect indicated she had gone to Newport Beach off 18th St. and picked up the car from that location. This female was arrested and taken to the County Jail and booked for VC 10851 DWOC. It was also learned that she had just been released three days prior. The owner of the BMW responded to the scene and retrieved his undamaged car. This case was referred to the DDA of Orange County for filing. On 8-24-2010, officers from the Santa Ana Pd picked up the silent LoJack signal of a stolen 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche that had been entered by Corona Pd less than ½ hr earlier. After obtaining the description, they began tracking the signal from Pine St. and Standard, finally tracking it to an impound yard located in the 1200 block of Hunter Ave. As the officers arrived at the location, multiple suspects were observed at which time they fled into the building. Officers deployed on the location and began a search. Several suspects were taken into custody immediately and others were found hiding in the rafters above the rooms. In all, 5 suspects were arrested, several of which had been released on bail in July for vehicle theft violations. One of the suspects was on active parole. The Chevrolet Avalanche was recovered, however, was found to be in various stages of being stripped. All suspects were booked at Santa Ana PD Jail. The vehicle was recovered and later returned to the owners and their insurance company to be repaired. LoJack of SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: On 08-14-2010, a Barstow PD Officer was in the station parking lot, when he picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from a 2003 GMC Sierra Truck, which had been reported stolen to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Barstow Station a mere twenty-eight minutes earlier. The officer put out a stolen vehicle broadcast and began tracking the signal toward the I-15 Freeway and Barstow Road. He proceeded northbound on the freeway, but the signal became weaker. He reversed his direction and when he reached “L” Street the signal became stronger. This area of the freeway has a very high (noise abatement) retaining wall. He got off the freeway and went back following the moving signal. He finally isolated the signal to the 27000 block of Calico Drive where he located the stolen vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence. There were several male subjects standing in the driveway and waived at the officer as he slowed down. Being a friendly person, the officer returned the friendly greeting, and drove down the block where he awaited the arrival of back-up units. Additional Barstow PD and Sheriff's units arrived to assist and the suspects were detained. One of them admitted to sealing the truck and he was arrested for Auto Theft and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Attempts to notify the victim were negative and the undamaged truck was towed and stored. On 08-07-2010, within three minutes of being activated, San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputies assigned to Central Station picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from a 2007 Toyota Yaris, which had just been reported stolen to Fontana PD. The signal was first acquired in the vicinity of Mount Vernon and Canal and was in a northbound direction toward the City of Colton. After initiating a stolen vehicle broadcast, which included a description of a female named suspect in the theft, the deputy began tracking the signal in a northwest direction. Sheriff's Helicopter 40-KING fight deputies also acquired the signal and assisted in the tracking. The LoJack signal was getting stronger as the ground unit reached Mount Vernon and Valley Boulevard. When he reached “M” Street and La Cadena he observed the stolen vehicle being driven by a female suspect. With the assistance of additional Colton PD ground units a felony vehicle stop was conducted and the suspect taken into custody without incident. The suspect, who is the victim's granddaughter, had recently been released from County Jail. She was arrested and charged with Auto Theft and Possession of Stolen Property. The undamaged vehicle was then released to the victim in the field. LoJack of RIVERSIDE COUNTY: On 08-23-2010, just three minutes after being activated, a Hemet PD Officer in the vicinity of 300 South Santa Fe Street picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from a stolen 1997 Nissan Altima, that was just reported stolen to their department. An additional unit responded from the station to assist in tracking the stolen vehicle. The officers triangulated the moving signal to the area of San Jacinto and Oakland, where they observed the stolen vehicle being driven by a female adult. Upon seeing the police car she made an abrupt turn into the driveway of a vacant residence. The officers deployed on the suspect taking her into custody without incident. Officers located additional stolen property inside the vehicle along with her cell phone. In a text page she indicated that “she got three cars on her own because some “low life” showed her how to do it.” She was arrested for Auto Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia, DUI and she also had an outstanding Felony Warrant. This arrest and recovery comes just a few weeks after LoJack technical personnel replaced all of the tracking computers in the police units. Per the officers “The LoJack Trackers worked perfectly.” On 08-03-2009, Redlands PD Flight Officers flying Airplane (Air-10), Rialto PD Officers and officers from other agencies, picked up the silent LoJack homing signal from a stolen 2009 Yamaha Motorcycle, which had been reported to Riverside PD. Air-10 had to land for fuel then returned to the City of Rialto to assist in the tracking. The signal was isolated to the 200 block of Randall Avenue, where the air unit observed a motorcycle in the rear yard of a residence. Rialto PD units arrived and their on board LoJack tracking system indicated that the signal was coming from that locating. A male suspect was in the driveway working on another M/C and he was detained. A search of the garage revealed the LoJack equipped Yamaha M/C along with another stolen 2007 Suzuki GSXR M/C from Mira Loma. Also recovered were numerous M/C parts, and additional motors and transmissions, with all VINs and identification numbers ground off. All of the motorcycles and parts were retained as evidence for follow-up investigation by San Bernardino County Auto Theft Taskforce (SANCATT). This investigation revealed that the parts were stolen and parts on the suspects M/C were from the LoJack bike. The transmission and motor (altered numbers) were also identified as stolen. This was classified as a Motorcycle Chop Shop and the suspect (a parolee) was arrested for Operating a Chop Shop, Auto Theft, Possession of Stolen Property and Parole Violation. This is Chop Shop # 390 for LoJack Southern California Operations. LoJack of SAN DIEGO COUNTY: On 07-29-10, a San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the Lemon Grove station, was on patrol when he received the silent signal of a stolen 2010 BMW motorcycle just ten minutes after it had been reported stolen. He advised other units of his tracking and started following the signal. In the 1800 block of Hillsdale Ave., he exited his vehicle and started looking for the motorcycle on foot. In the 1700 block of Hillsdale Ave., he looked over a fence and observed the motorcycle on a trailer. While back up units were coming to his location, he observed two suspects working on the motorcycle. When the suspects looked up and saw the Deputy, they ran to the rear of the property. Entry was made to the property and the deputies found several people sleeping in campers in various locations. Although most of the people said they had been asleep, witnesses were found that placed the two suspects with the motorcycle. Although the ignition had been tampered with, it appeared the motorcycle had been trailered to the residence. Two suspects were booked for auto theft and the motorcycle was recovered with minimal damage. On 08-2-10, an Oceanside Police Officer was on routine patrol when he received the silent signal of a stolen 1992 Honda Accord. He started following the signal and felt it was in an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Bernard Way. An unmarked unit went into the complex and observed the vehicle parked in a stall. Surveillance was set up, and after a few minutes a suspect got into the car and attempted to leave. The car was stopped immediately and the suspect detained. He was later booked for auto theft and the car was recovered without sustaining any damage. On 08-08-10, a San Diego Police Officer assigned to Western Division was on patrol in the 900 block of Sutter St. when he received the silent signal of a stolen 2008 Toyota Corolla that had been reported stolen to the Santee station of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. He started tracking the signal and followed it to a parking lot in the 3900 block of Brant St. A suspect was sitting in the driver's seat and was the person listed as the suspect in the theft report. The suspect was arrested and booked for auto theft, while the car was stored for safe keeping to be returned to the rightful owner. On 08-28-10, a San Diego Police Officer assigned to Northeastern Division was on routine patrol at Carmel and Penasquitos when he received the silent signal of a stolen 2002 Audi AS4 just five minutes after it had been reported stolen. He started following the signal and after a few minutes observed the vehicle parked in the 13800 block of Fontanelle Pl. An individual was observed walking away from the vehicle and was detained for an interview. The individual was identified as the person that had control of the vehicle and was arrested. He was later booked and the car was recovered without sustaining any damage. No notable activities in the below counties for August LoJack of VENTURA COUNTY: LoJack of IMPERIAL COUNTY: LoJack of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: LoJack of SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY: MEXICO RECOVERIES: LoJack Mexico (CarMart) assisted authorities to recover Thirteen (13) US stolen vehicles during the month of August 2010. For further information, contact Southern California Senior Law Enforcement Liaison Ted Saraf, or phone 213-286-2610 day time or 1800-929-2000 after normal work hours. For a downloadable version of this report, please click here. Prior LoJack Monthly Update Reports are available, please click here. |
