Fisherman's Live Sonar System Locates Months-Old Stolen Vehicle
*ALMENA TOWNSHIP, Mich.* — In what officials are calling a remarkable recovery, a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck has been found at the bottom of Wolf Lake after months of being submerged underwater.
A citizen contacted the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office after his live sonar system picked up a suspicious object while fishing in Almena Township. The object turned out to be a stolen vehicle that had been underwater for approximately six months.
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office says after finding and retrieving the vehicle, they identified it as a Dodge Ram pickup that was reported stolen out of Kalamazoo County in October 2025.
After being underwater for months, the truck became a home to the local wildlife, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
During the recovery operation, dive team members took the extra step to safely return the fish and other animals back to the water.
Recovery Operation Details
On March 26, 2026, members of the Van Buren County Dive Team conducted a dive operation on Wolf Lake and successfully located the submerged vehicle.
The vehicle was found approximately 25 feet underwater. A Detective Sergeant coordinated with the Van Buren County Dive Team to investigate and locate the large vehicle after receiving photographs from the citizen.
The citizen provided photographs captured from the forward-facing sonar, which appeared to show a vehicle submerged in approximately 25 feet of water, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office Drone Team assisted by providing overhead aerial support and safety monitoring for personnel on the water during the operation.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
After being submerged for approximately six months, the vehicle had become a habitat for aquatic life. The truck was pulled from Wolf Lake with the help of a fishing sonar device used by a local citizen.
The investigation into the vehicle theft remains ongoing, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
Community Tips Available
Officials continue to encourage the community to come forward with any information that could help solve the theft case.
For immediate reporting, contact the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office at (269) 657-3101, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
Additional reporting is available at Crime Stoppers 1-800-342-7867, Silent Observer (269) 343-2100, or your local Police Department.
Story Details
- Date: March 26, 2026
- Location: Wolf Lake, Almena Township, Van Buren County
- Vehicle: Dodge Ram pickup truck
- Time Stolen: October 2025
- Recovery Depth: Approximately 25 feet underwater
- Recovery Time: March 26, 2026
The story highlights the remarkable circumstances of a stolen vehicle being found after being submerged in Wolf Lake for six months. A local fisherman using a Garmin LiveScope sonar system spotted the truck, leading to a coordinated recovery operation involving the Van Buren County Dive Team and Drone Team.