LoJack Vehicle Recovery Case File: Cut Wires, Missed Signal — 2019 International Freightliner (Lathrop → Sacramento, CA)

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

Case Snapshot

Vehicle: 2019 International Freightliner (tractor)

Activation: San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Lathrop, California

Recovery: California Highway Patrol, Sacramento, California

Dealership/Installer: Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance

Vehicle Recovery Narrative

Big rigs draw big plans. This tractor was parked overnight in Lathrop when thieves moved before dawn. They killed the company’s visible tracker—an old trick to erase footprints—and pulled out clean. Or so they thought.

Buried deeper in the truck was a second guardian: LoJack. Once the theft was entered, the signal walked us north to Sacramento. CHP followed the trail into a commercial district and found the tractor abandoned—its trailer cut loose and gone. That’s the calling card of organized theft: split the unit, move fast, sell faster.

Recovering the tractor prevented a second round of crime, the kind that can run into millions when a stolen rig gets repurposed for additional loads. The trailer and suspects are still in the wind, but the case didn’t end the way the crew planned.

Tactical Takeaways for LE Partners

• Thieves disabled the primary tracker; the secondary LoJack unit continued to report.
• Live location guided CHP to the tractor in Sacramento; the trailer was severed and missing.
• Recovery prevented further use of the rig in additional thefts; suspects remain at large.

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.