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LAPD officers demonstrate STOVAC anti-theft device, offer two units to department
Summary
Two Los Angeles Police Department officers demonstrated STOVAC, a stolen-vehicle activation system they developed, told the City Council it can locate and disable stolen cars, and offered to donate two units to the LAPD; speakers said Santa Ana Police Department recently used the device in arrests.
Councilman Mike Hernandez introduced two Los Angeles Police Department officers who demonstrated a vehicle anti-theft system called STOVAC and offered to donate two units to the department.
The officers, identified in council remarks as Joe Escareno and Manny Agomani, described STOVAC as a GPS-monitored device that alerts owners and allows authorized users or police to disable a stolen vehicle. Escareno told the council he and his partner developed the system after years of policing high-speed pursuits and that the device is designed to “shut the vehicle down” once authorized. "At this time too, I would like to donate 2 of our units...on behalf of Stovac, will donate 2, Stovac units to the LAPD," Escareno said.
A 60-second video shown at the meeting framed STOVAC as a response to rising vehicle theft and pursuits; the video cited an FBI estimate of 1.5 million to 2 million vehicles stolen nationwide per year and said the system can induce vehicle shutdown within one minute of activation. Council presenters and the officers described a recent use by the Santa Ana Police Department, saying that jurisdiction reported successful arrests after deploying STOVAC in a sting operation.
Manny Agomani said the pair's goal was to reduce high-speed pursuits and protect bystanders. "Our whole goal was to to end these high speed pursuits, to save lives, protect innocent victims," he said during remarks to the council.
Council remarks included appreciation for the officers' work and the offer to donate units; the council presented certificates of appreciation but took no formal action to accept or deploy the donated units during the meeting. Council staff said they would coordinate with LAPD about the protocol and any required departmental approvals.
The presentation included officers' claims about STOVAC's capabilities and the video's statistics; the council and presenters did not provide independent verification of the device's performance or of long-term operational protocols, and no procurement or formal testing timeline was announced at the session.
The item concluded with the officers thanking the council. Councilman Hernandez said staff would follow up with LAPD about incorporating the donated units into department procedures and any necessary approvals.
