The police in Cape Coral, Fla., hit the jackpot when they recently responded to a stolen vehicle call. According to Lieutenant Tony Sizemore, Cape Coral Police Public Affairs Office, a man called the department early one morning to report that his 2010 Chevy Traverse was missing from his driveway.

The quick-thinking dispatcher, who was familiar with GM vehicles, asked the man if his Traverse had OnStar, which it did. The dispatcher got in touch with OnStar and within seconds the stolen vehicle was located on the parkway in Ft. Myers, heading into Cape Coral.

Officers set up at the foot of a bridge the Traverse had to cross — and like clockwork, the Traverse drove right by. The police stopped the vehicle and arrested three teenagers — a 17-year-old male, his 15-year-old sister and a 16-year-old male friend.

When the police took the trio into custody, they discovered that this had been more than just a joyride.

That one call to OnStar helped break up a juvenile crime spree known as “car hopping.” The teens had been going through neighborhoods looking for unlocked cars and taking whatever they found. In addition to the stolen Traverse, police recovered several credit cards and a wallet belonging to other victims.

Police charged the three with one count of grand theft auto, six counts of burglary and four counts of theft.

“This case was solved literally minutes after its discovery, thanks to new technology, heads-up thinking and old-fashioned police work,” Lieutenant Sizemore says. “OnStar most definitely played a pivotal role in not only arresting the car thieves but solving additional crimes as well. All while quickly and safely returning the victim’s car in good condition.”

Stolen Vehicle Assistance service varies by model and conditions.

In August, someone stole several sets of keys from a used car lot in Louisiana and made off with five cars. However one of the stolen vehicles was a Chevrolet equipped with OnStar. After a police report was filed, the local law enforcement worked with OnStar to find the Chevy through OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance,* which pinpointed its location using GPS technology. OnStar located the Chevy in a grassy field where they also discovered the other stolen vehicles.

OnStar has worked with law enforcement since the late 1990s, helping locate more than 57,000 stolen vehicles equipped with OnStar. It’s a relationship that continues to this day, according to George Baker, manager of Public Safety Outreach for OnStar. “We work together to figure out what improvements are needed to help deter vehicle theft while enhancing the safety of our subscribers,” Baker says.

OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance was developed when OnStar partnered with local law enforcement agencies to find out about their needs and concerns when it came to recovering stolen vehicles.

Stolen Vehicle Slowdown* and Remote Ignition Block* — service enhancements to Stolen Vehicle Assistance — were developed in much the same way.

Baker recalls that law enforcement agencies requested that OnStar develop a technological solution to prevent or reduce high-speed pursuits and the injuries and deaths that can result from them. “More than 95% of our subscribers surveyed said they’d want OnStar to disable their vehicle if it were stolen,” he says.

In 2007–2008, OnStar conducted a series of three clinics involving local, U.S. and Canadian law enforcement and dispatch officials to develop the protocols that support Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, according to Baker.

“In 2008 we conducted a major outreach tour to some 27 cities in the U.S. and Canada to demonstrate to law enforcement and dispatch agencies the new Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service,” he says. “Since the launch of Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, we’ve slowed down at least 90 stolen vehicles, arguably preventing that many high-speed chases.”

OnStar repeated the same development process again the following year. “In 2009 we held another clinic to develop and confirm the procedures we’d use for Remote Ignition Block,” Baker says. “We’ve successfully blocked the ignition of over 3,000 stolen vehicles since Remote Ignition Block was launched in mid-2009, theoretically preventing extended use by a thief of these vehicles even if they’ve stolen the key.”

OnStar and law enforcement continue working together in their efforts to stop car thieves in their tracks while keeping the public safe. “It’s always rewarding when you have the private sector and the law enforcement community work hand-in-hand,” says Baker.

* Service varies by model and conditions.

We immediately called the police and OnStar. Within 45 minutes, my car was located. By 1 p.m., my car had been recovered and was thankfully in perfect condition. No suspects were caught — however, because my car had OnStar, it led to the discovery of my neighbor’s stolen car and several other recently stolen cars. All thanks to my car and OnStar!

I will never go without having OnStar service because I am convinced that without it, my brand-new Equinox would either never have been found or been found in horrific condition.

I know it sounds cheesy, but I love my new car and consider it a part of the family since I drive so much and it transports my family all around. So thank you for this great service. Thank you again to everyone at OnStar!

— Anna Manousos, OnStar subscriber

Stolen Vehicle Assistance service varies by model and conditions.

Have your own OnStar experience? Share your story.

Most people will never find themselves in a scary situation like that. But on any normal day, you could lock your keys in the car, need directions, get a flat tire or need to contact someone while you’re on the road. OnStar keeps you connected with the help you need to get through those situations, with a live OnStar Advisor there to help, 24/7.

Here are eight ways  OnStar can make your drive better — and provide peace of mind — every day:

1) Ever get that sinking feeling when you realize you’ve locked your keys in the car? It happens to just about everyone. But OnStar can get you back in your vehicle — usually in minutes. Call OnStar (1.888.4.ONSTAR) and an Advisor will send a signal to unlock your doors (after confirming your account and security information, of course). No locksmith needed. No hassle for you.
2) We’ve all had days where we need a little help finding our destination. OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation⁽¹⁾ can help get you there effortlessly. Push the blue button and ask an Advisor to help you get where you need to be. With OnStar, you’ll have the most up-to-date routes right at your fingertips, and a live person who can assist you. Or plan your route ahead of time using Google Maps™ or MapQuest.com and send it right from your personal computer to your vehicle with eNav. You can store up to five destinations and retrieve them from your vehicle whenever you want.
3) Find yourself stranded with a flat tire or an empty gas tank? Remember, with OnStar you’re always connected. Push that blue button and Roadside Assistance⁽²⁾ can help you get back on your way.
4) If you make a lot of calls from your car, OnStar Hands-Free Calling⁽³⁾ lets you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Just push the Hands-Free Calling button and say the phone number or the stored name you want to call.
5) Ever start to panic when you can’t find your car in a parking lot? Call OnStar (1.888.4.ONSTAR) and ask to have a remote signal sent to activate your vehicle’s horn and lights to make it easy to find.
6) If your car’s ever stolen, OnStar can work with the police to attempt to recover it. OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance⁽⁴⁾ can pinpoint the location of your vehicle using GPS technology and provide the information to authorities. OnStar Ignition Block⁽⁴⁾ can remotely block your ignition, making it impossible to restart the vehicle once it’s turned off. And with OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown,⁽⁴⁾ an Advisor can work with the police to send a signal to your vehicle to gradually and safely slow it down.
7) If you want to make sure your vehicle is running efficiently, try OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics.⁽⁵⁾ We’ll send you monthly email reports showing what’s going on with your vehicle — in simple terms with color-coded icons that make it easy to review. Every month hundreds of diagnostic checks and maintenance checks are run on your vehicle’s key operating systems. And it’s all part of your OnStar service, at no additional cost.
8 ) If your “check engine” light comes on or you hear a strange noise while you’re driving, push the blue button and ask for an On-Demand Diagnostics⁽⁵⁾ check. An Advisor will complete a real-time check — and let you know what next steps to take.

It’s easy to see how OnStar becomes part of people’s everyday lives. Because, after all,  you just never know what the day will bring.