arrested theif
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From: West, MI (616)
arrested theif
i know this is not FI realated but i wanted to post this up
this is where im from i had my car stolen a few times
damm car jackers!!!!!!!!!!
Police break up a multi-state vehicle theft ring
Tight-knit group stole Hondas and Acuras, was active in four states
By NATE REENS
Staff writer
An Ottawa sheriff's detective says police have broken up a multi-state car theft and chop shop ring after a year-long investigation and the identification of at least 15 suspects.
Detective Dave Blakely said Wednesday conservative estimates show 32 Honda and Acura vehicles, primarily Honda Civics from 1993 to 1998, were stolen around Ottawa County or transported here after being stolen in Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Blakely says residential chop shops -- where vehicles were stripped of parts and engines inside northside Holland garages -- and break-ins at two area auto parts stores accounted for at least $150,000 in losses. One auto store, MJ Racing, folded after a break-in cost it $16,000 in parts and materials.
"We were finding Hondas from Chicago were being brought up here and stripped out to the core," Blakely said. "They were looking for the V-Tech engines and taking everything right down to the chassis.
"These guys would pile four in a car leave Holland, rip it, bring it here, strip it and then sell the parts. We'd then find the shell and have to try to track where the car came from."
Police first noticed the trend last November and began work to infiltrate a group they suspected were involved in the thefts. Ottawa authorities combined with state police and a Grand Rapids area auto theft task force to break the case.
Blakely said five people have been arrested and charged, four more arrests are likely and others are still subject to the investigation. Criminal charges range from unlawful driving away a vehicle, breaking and entering and larceny from a motor vehicle. Suspects are between the ages of 16 and 28, police say.
David Hampton, a Michigan State Police detective who concentrates on auto thefts, said the Honda circuit was a difficult case to work because of the suspects involved.
"It's not that easy for a bunch of 40-year-old's to get into something like this and it's even harder when it's a close-knit group, which this was," said Hampton, who works in the Lansing criminal investigation division. "It was essentially organized crime by a gang."
Blakely said some cars were so bare when they were found, police couldn't determine if they were stolen in Ottawa County, a neighboring area or another state. He now believes at least 10 of 32 cars stolen came from other states.
"We found one that had only a milk crate for a seat, the ignition column and a steering wheel. Everything else was taken," he said. "The dashboard, the seats, the airbags and the consoles were all taken out. Anything they could market is what they would steal."
Blakely said the thieves were skilled mechanics and could disassemble a car and remove the vehicle's engine in under an hour. An unlocked vehicle could be stolen in under 30 seconds.
"These guys were good," he said.
Hampton, the state police detective, said tracking the stolen parts was another monumental task because the thieves were aware what parts were traceable and which weren't.
"To know what parts to use and which parts to dump takes a lot of knowledge and word-of-mouth," he said. "But these guys figured it out."
While arrests have been made and police continue to explore another group of individuals committing the same crimes, Blakely said car thefts are back to a minimum.
The sheriff's department is now pursuing a state grant to stay on top of auto thefts.
Hampton said Ottawa County residents can help authorities remain vigilant in the on-going investigation of thefts and chop shop operations.
The state police detective said people should look for a constant churn of sporty vehicles, frequent repainting and other mechanical activity at homes.
"If they know their neighbor isn't running a side repair business or fixing their friend's or relative's cars in his garage, then it ought to send some flags up when there's cars moving through there," Hampton said. "I'm not saying the shade tree or garage mechanics are crooked, but they usually spend months on a single car, not one a day or a couple a week."
this is where im from i had my car stolen a few times
damm car jackers!!!!!!!!!!
Police break up a multi-state vehicle theft ring
Tight-knit group stole Hondas and Acuras, was active in four states
By NATE REENS
Staff writer
An Ottawa sheriff's detective says police have broken up a multi-state car theft and chop shop ring after a year-long investigation and the identification of at least 15 suspects.
Detective Dave Blakely said Wednesday conservative estimates show 32 Honda and Acura vehicles, primarily Honda Civics from 1993 to 1998, were stolen around Ottawa County or transported here after being stolen in Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Blakely says residential chop shops -- where vehicles were stripped of parts and engines inside northside Holland garages -- and break-ins at two area auto parts stores accounted for at least $150,000 in losses. One auto store, MJ Racing, folded after a break-in cost it $16,000 in parts and materials.
"We were finding Hondas from Chicago were being brought up here and stripped out to the core," Blakely said. "They were looking for the V-Tech engines and taking everything right down to the chassis.
"These guys would pile four in a car leave Holland, rip it, bring it here, strip it and then sell the parts. We'd then find the shell and have to try to track where the car came from."
Police first noticed the trend last November and began work to infiltrate a group they suspected were involved in the thefts. Ottawa authorities combined with state police and a Grand Rapids area auto theft task force to break the case.
Blakely said five people have been arrested and charged, four more arrests are likely and others are still subject to the investigation. Criminal charges range from unlawful driving away a vehicle, breaking and entering and larceny from a motor vehicle. Suspects are between the ages of 16 and 28, police say.
David Hampton, a Michigan State Police detective who concentrates on auto thefts, said the Honda circuit was a difficult case to work because of the suspects involved.
"It's not that easy for a bunch of 40-year-old's to get into something like this and it's even harder when it's a close-knit group, which this was," said Hampton, who works in the Lansing criminal investigation division. "It was essentially organized crime by a gang."
Blakely said some cars were so bare when they were found, police couldn't determine if they were stolen in Ottawa County, a neighboring area or another state. He now believes at least 10 of 32 cars stolen came from other states.
"We found one that had only a milk crate for a seat, the ignition column and a steering wheel. Everything else was taken," he said. "The dashboard, the seats, the airbags and the consoles were all taken out. Anything they could market is what they would steal."
Blakely said the thieves were skilled mechanics and could disassemble a car and remove the vehicle's engine in under an hour. An unlocked vehicle could be stolen in under 30 seconds.
"These guys were good," he said.
Hampton, the state police detective, said tracking the stolen parts was another monumental task because the thieves were aware what parts were traceable and which weren't.
"To know what parts to use and which parts to dump takes a lot of knowledge and word-of-mouth," he said. "But these guys figured it out."
While arrests have been made and police continue to explore another group of individuals committing the same crimes, Blakely said car thefts are back to a minimum.
The sheriff's department is now pursuing a state grant to stay on top of auto thefts.
Hampton said Ottawa County residents can help authorities remain vigilant in the on-going investigation of thefts and chop shop operations.
The state police detective said people should look for a constant churn of sporty vehicles, frequent repainting and other mechanical activity at homes.
"If they know their neighbor isn't running a side repair business or fixing their friend's or relative's cars in his garage, then it ought to send some flags up when there's cars moving through there," Hampton said. "I'm not saying the shade tree or garage mechanics are crooked, but they usually spend months on a single car, not one a day or a couple a week."
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 129
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From: East Coast
Re: arrested theif (siboi18)
Theives suck !! It is all about preparation. Prepare your car not to be stolen and it won't. It's called, Clifford, Lowjack and a 9mm. Most of the cars that are stolen in my area are stock/lighty moded. The owners are to concerned about getting their triple stacked wing painted than protecting their investment.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,905
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
Re: arrested theif (Dr Drew)
good to hear about that....i wish they would arrest the damn theives that prowl around englishtown raceway......i love walking out to empty parking spots, where i knew that my car was parked......F- theifs 
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