Stolen Dodge Ram Recovered from Michigan Lake After Fisherman's Tip

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A stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck that had been missing for months was recovered from Wolf Lake in Van Buren County, Michigan, after a fisherman using sonar technology spotted the submerged vehicle. The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office coordinated a search operation with their dive team, which successfully located and retrieved the truck from about 25 feet of water.

Why it matters

The recovery of this stolen vehicle highlights the importance of public vigilance and the value of new technologies like sonar in assisting law enforcement. It also demonstrates the resourcefulness of local authorities in responding to tips from citizens and deploying specialized teams to address complex cases.

The details

On March 25, a citizen fishing on Wolf Lake noticed a suspicious object using his Garmin LiveScope sonar system and shared images with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office. A detective sergeant coordinated with the department's dive team to search the lake, and on March 26 they located and recovered the submerged Dodge Ram pickup that had been reported stolen from Kalamazoo County in October 2025. The vehicle had become a habitat for fish and other wildlife after spending approximately 6 months underwater.

• On March 25, 2026, a fisherman spotted the submerged vehicle using sonar technology.
• On March 26, 2026, the Van Buren County Dive Team recovered the stolen Dodge Ram pickup from Wolf Lake.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the theft and recovery of the vehicle.