Lexus Driver Recovers Carjacked Vehicle With Satellite Radio
The victim activated a Sirius XM satellite radio feature that tracked the car’s movement until police could find it.
SANTA CRUZ - A man located his stolen vehicle in San Mateo County Friday morning using his satellite radio after being carjacked at gunpoint in Santa Cruz Thursday night, Santa Cruz police said.
The 2015 Lexus RCF was recovered on a rural road off state Highway 84 in San Mateo County after the victim activated a Sirius XM satellite radio feature that tracked the car’s movement overnight.
At 8:35 p.m. police responded to the report of a carjacking in the 100 block of Baldwin Street, according to police. Police said the victim was walking to his home when he was approached by the suspect, who brandished an assault-style rifle and demanded the keys to the victim’s car.
Officers spotted the stolen car about 10 minutes later at Highway 1 and Western Drive. Police said the car briefly pulled to the side of the road on northbound Highway 1, but quickly accelerated away, reaching speeds of 100+ miles per hour. A short pursuit ensued, but was discontinued after about a mile due to weather related road conditions.
According to police, the suspect drove to San Mateo County where local authorities spotted the stolen vehicle and initiated a short pursuit.
San Mateo County deputies terminated their pursuit but continued to monitor the vehicle’s location and used a helicopter to search the surrounding area for the suspect, who was not found.
Santa Cruz detectives coordinated with San Mateo County Deputies and were able to successfully recover the car where it will be searched for evidence before being returned to the victim.
The suspect is described as an adult white male, between the ages of 20-25.
He was last seen wearing a bandana covering his face, a baseball hat, a black jacket and jeans. Police said the suspect might have been associated with another car seen in the area at the time of the carjacking.
That car is described as a black four-door sedan similar to the appearance of a Toyota Prius.
