Stolen car brought to a halt by satellite
Tracking device nets suspects after 401 trip
By Bob Mitchell and Tracy Huffman
Toronto Star Staff Reporters
Three teenagers are facing charges after the stolen car they were driving was stopped by remote control on Islington Ave. Provincial police were waiting as an alarm-monitoring company used satellite technology to stop the wheels of the 1999 Chrysler Intrepid and the surprised occupants bailed out.
Police say Monday's incident is among the first cases in Greater Toronto where a stolen vehicle was stopped through the use of a computer tracking device inside the car.
Vehicle-tracking devices are commonly installed in luxury cars as well as rental vehicles, said Andrew Dolan, business manager of Bob Bannerman Dodge Jeep on Don Mills Rd.
"It's an alarm system and a tracking device at the same time," he said. "When the car is stolen, the company notifies the customer through a pager system. Then the company will track (the car) via satellite because there is a chip in the car."
The remote control system can turn off the car's engines and lock the doors, trapping the thief in the vehicle.
Police said the Intrepid, which had been stolen from a Thrifty Car and Truck Rental lot in Kitchener, was equipped with a Global Positioning System tracking device monitored by Navlynx Canada Inc.
The car was stolen around 2:15 p.m. and was seen travelling on Highway 401 toward Toronto, said Constable Lisa Anderson of the Port Credit detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.
"As officers were getting into position to intercept the stolen vehicle, they received information updates (from the police dispatcher, in contact with the monitoring company) as to the exact speed of the vehicle, its exact location, how much gas was left in the fuel tank, even information as to which doors on the motor vehicle were locked or unlocked," Anderson said.
"Officers were also informed that there was no need to attempt to stop the vehicle because the monitoring company had the capabilities to disable the vehicle once it reached a safe location to do so."
Police say the vehicle left Highway 401 and travelled south on Islington Ave. Navlynx disabled the vehicle as it came to a stop at the intersection of Islington Ave. and Norseman St., where officers moved in and nabbed the three teenagers as they ran from the disabled vehicle.
The security system, which can be used in any vehicle, costs about $400 installed, and the customer pays a monthly fee of around $20, Dolan said.
"This kind of device could be the answer to many of our ills," said Ontario Provincial Police Superintendent Jay Hope, regional commander for Greater Toronto. "This is the first time I know of a stolen car being stopped this way on our highways.
"Company officials said they've used it before in finding rental vehicles that have been stolen, but this is the first time it's ever been used for stolen vehicle being stopped by police and the occupants arrested.
"This technology would greatly assist all police officers in protecting all persons against property damage, serious injuries and deaths in relation to police pursuits."
A 17-year-old youth was charged with theft over $5,000, possession over $5,000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failure to comply with probation, breach of recognizance and driving a motor vehicle without a licence.
Also arrested and charged with possession over $5,000 was a 16 year-old and a 15-year-old.
The 15-year-old also is charged with possession of a controlled substance. The names of the youths are protected by the Young Offenders Act.