TREND WATCH: Thieves Removing and Switching License Plates
- April 27, 2012
In our first story, the owner had his car broken into and the suspects found the car keys hidden in vehicle and stole the car. The owner reported the 2010 BMW 750IL stolen to the Frisco Police Department and the vehicle information was entered into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) police computer. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
Dallas Police Officers picked up the silent LoJack homing signal on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in their vehicle. This allowed them to track this stolen BMW to an apartment complex parking lot, where they found it parked. The suspects had removed the license plates and replaced them with a paper dealer tag. This vehicle is valued at $100,000.00. This is an ongoing investigation.
Note: Portions of this story were obtained from the Frisco and and Dallas Police Department
In our second story, the owners reported their vehicle stolen to law enforcement, the vehicle information was entered into the statewide stolen vehicle system (SVS/NCIC) computer. This routine police action automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
On 4-23-12, LAPD Air-3 picked up the LoJack signal from the victim’s stolen 2009 Nissan Cube black in color. Air-3 vectored in Southeast ground units to the vehicle’s location. The units observed the vehicle being driven by one female suspect with a male passenger. They also observed the vehicle to have been freshly painted silver and the license plates attached belonged to a 2005 Chevrolet.
When requested back-up units arrived, they conducted a high risk traffic stop taking the two suspects into custody. The officers’ investigation found the female suspect knew the victim, somehow got a spare set of keys made and stole her vehicle. The suspect then painted the vehicle and switched license plates to conceal the identity of the vehicle.
The suspect was also in possession of several of the victim’s credit cards and identification which had been left inside the stolen vehicle. The suspect had been using the cards to charge items. The female suspect was arrested for Grand Theft Auto. The passenger suspect was questioned and released. Southeast Detectives are conducting the follow-up investigation.
Note: Portions of this story were obtained from the LASD Carson Station and LAPD Southeast Division (Air-3 assist)