The Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) -- The Honolulu Police Department has gone high tech in an effort to catch car thieves.
Officers used a global positioning system to track a car stolen from the downtown area. They then used a remote-control device to kill the vehicle’s engine in Nuuanu so the woman driving the car couldn’t flee.
The specially equipped car was donated by the National Insurance Crime Bureau and local auto insurance companies.
Lt. Hank Nobriga, head of HPD’s Auto Theft Detail, said Thursday’s arrest was the first after months of leaving the car in various locations, including Waikiki, Makiki and Pearl City.
The woman has two felony arrests and could be linked with other auto thefts, Nobriga said.
About 500 to 600 vehicles are stolen each month on Oahu, down from 700 to 800 a couple of years ago.