LoJack Vehicle Recovery Case File: Synthetic Identity, Real Consequences — 2020 Audi Q7 (Sumner, WA → Santa Barbara, CA)

First‑person account by a LoJack Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL) supporting police agencies; not a sworn officer.

Case Snapshot

Vehicle: 2020 Audi Q7

Activation: Sumner Police Department, Washington (NCIC entry after fraud confirmed)

Recovery: California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara, California

Dealership/Installer: Honda of Sumner, Sumner, Washington (pre‑installed LoJack)

Vehicle Recovery Narrative

On paper, the buyer looked legitimate. In reality, the ID was synthetic and the financing fraudulent. When the dealership put the pieces together, they shut off the vehicle’s app access and saw what mattered most—the Audi’s location, hundreds of miles away in Santa Barbara.

Sumner PD entered the VIN into NCIC. I confirmed the stolen entry and added the vehicle to LoJack LE so officers downrange could see it live. California Highway Patrol traced the last known point to a casino and teamed up with security on site.

Working off the dealership’s photo of the fraudulent ID, facial recognition led CHP to the suspect inside the casino. The arrest was clean. A search incident to arrest turned up a dozen more fraudulent IDs. The Audi was impounded for safekeeping and slated for return to the dealership.

Fraud doesn’t need a chase to be dangerous. It only needs time. Real‑time tracking and cross‑agency cooperation closed that window.

Tactical Takeaways for LE Partners

• Dealer confirmed synthetic‑ID fraud; app access revoked revealed the vehicle’s out‑of‑state location.
• NCIC entry followed by LoJack LE activation gave CHP live tracking data.
• Casino partnership and facial recognition led to the suspect’s identification and arrest; multiple fraudulent IDs recovered.

See How LoJack LE Can Support Your Department 

Every minute counts when recovering a stolen vehicle. LoJack’s Law Enforcement app provides real-time GPS tracking, allowing officers to act quickly and efficiently. Want to see how LoJack can support your department? Request a demo today to learn more about LoJack’s solutions for law enforcement.