On April 7, OnStar (1) alerted the Millard County (Utah) Sheriff’s Office to a stolen Chevy Suburban, but the assistance didn’t stop there. OnStar also helped pinpoint the vehicle’s location and blocked the ignition when the Suburban was parked at a gas station, preventing the vehicle and the suspects from going any farther.
“I wasn’t aware of this capability,” says Lt. Morris Burton of the Millard County Sheriff’s Office. The technology — called Remote Ignition Block — allows an OnStar Advisor to send a signal to a vehicle to keep thieves from restarting the engine once it has been turned off. “It’s a great feature,” Lt. Burton says.
Prior to disabling the ignition, OnStar used GPS technology to help officers locate the vehicle at the gas station. After the ignition was blocked, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper monitored the situation until Lt. Burton and other Sheriff’s deputies arrived. At that point, they converged on the scene and arrested three suspects.
“We arrested the people and OnStar unblocked the ignition,” Lt. Burton explains. “The vehicle was moved to one of our buildings. We obtained a search warrant and discovered about $50,000 in methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.” The three suspects were booked on charges related to the stolen vehicle and drug possession.
As a 34-year veteran in law enforcement, Lt. Burton has seen firsthand how OnStar can assist law enforcement. “Over the years, I’ve worked on a number of crashes where the report came from OnStar,” he says. “Once, we had an Alzheimer’s patient who got in his car and got lost. Once we were notified, we were able to find him.
“So, we’ve had situations with OnStar — but never like this before.”
The stolen vehicle incident just reinforces Lt. Burton’s belief that OnStar can assist law enforcement in any number of ways. “I’ve been impressed with OnStar and the things they’ve done with us,” he says. “They are willing to do whatever they can within their means to help us and to help their customers.”
STOLEN VEHICLE ASSISTANCE
Remote Ignition Block is just one of OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Assistance technologies that help law enforcement recover stolen vehicles quickly and safely. Other OnStar features that can assist in these situations include:
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown (2) — With this feature, once police confirm that conditions are appropriate, OnStar can send an electronic signal to gradually slow the vehicle so police can bring the situation to a conclusion.
• Theft Alarm Notification — This newer feature enables OnStar to immediately alert an owner through text, e-mail or phone call if their vehicle’s theft alarm activates. If the owner determines an emergency exists, they can contact OnStar and report the incident to police and request help from OnStar for assistance in the recovery process.
1. OnStar service requires the vehicle electrical system (including battery, wireless service and GPS satellite signals) to be available and operating for features to function properly. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations. Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. Subscription Service Agreement required.
2. Stolen Vehicle Slowdown and Remote Ignition Block are available on select OnStar-equipped 2008 model and newer vehicles. Visit onstar.com for details. Success varies with conditions.