East County News Service
December 12, 2016 (Lemon Grove) – About 10,000 vehicles are stolen each year in San Diego, and many of them wind up in chop shops that dismantle the vehicles and sell of parts.
But now a year-long investigation has led to 32 arrests and 42 indictments for suspected auto theft as well as selling guns and drugs. Ten suspects remain at large. Investigators set up a fake chop shop in Lemon Grove, where car thieves brought in stolen vehicles.
The undercover operation, called Operation Kwik Boost, was led by the California Highway Patrol’s Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan announced at a press conference. Over 200 officers participated.
The task force was able to recover 117 stolen vehicles worth $1.3 million – and instead of getting chopped, the vehicles were returned to their rightful owners.
Task Force Commander Don Goodbrand says some of the owners didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to replace their vehicles. “And these were their only vehicles, their sole method of transportation to get their kids to and from school, to work and run their daily errands. To be able to recover these vehicles and return them to their rightful owners was especially rewarding to myself and my staff,” he said, the Union Tribune reports.
Authorities identified about 10 different auto theft rings in the region, also tipping off federal authorities after making discoveries that some crooks were also peddling firearms and drugs. Federal agents seized firearms ranging from pistols to homemade assault-type rifles. Drugs were also seized, including methamphetamines, cocaine and marijuana.
The investigation continues and more indictments may occur. Thanks to the Regional Auto Theft Task Force’s efforts, San Diego County has reportedly dropped from having the third highest number of car thefts in the nation to now, a ranking of 15th.