Police Recover Retired Police Officer’s Stolen Toyota Highlander
- November 21, 2011
- jaleman
Opportunistic thieves took advantage of an unfortunate situation involving a 75-year-old retired police officer earlier this week. The retired officer, an owner of a 2006 Toyota Highlander, was disoriented due to a diabetic reaction while vacationing in Reno, NV. After he pulled off to the side of a street, an individual offered to assist the driver and bring him to his hotel. The individual told a hotel parking valet attendant that “his grandfather wants me to move the vehicle.” The attendant provided the eventual suspect with the keys to the Toyota Highlander and the suspect drove off with the victim’s vehicle.
After the victim became aware of the theft, he reported the theft of his Toyota Highlander to the Reno Police Department, who entered the vehicle’s information into the National Crime Information Center computers. This action automatically activated the LoJack System hidden inside the stolen Highlander.
Less than one hour after the LoJack was activated, an officer with the California Highway Patrol in Truckee, CA began picking up the silent signal emitting from the stolen Highlander. His LoJack Police Tracking Computer led him to west bound I-80 in Soda Springs. The officer conducted a felony stop and took the suspect into custody without incident.
The suspect was arrested for auto theft. It was determined that the suspect was wanted in Nevada for several felony warrants and a no bail probation violation. The victim picked up his undamaged vehicle the next morning.
More details on this story can be found here:
https://www.theunion.com/article/20111116/NEWS/111119853/1066&ParentProfile=1053