30 Arrested in Probe of Stolen Car Parts
Thirty people have been arrested and others are being sought in an investigation of San Fernando Valley auto repair shops and wrecking yards that bought stolen car parts from undercover officers, Los Angeles police said Thursday.
The arrests were made Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 14 such businesses, ending a six-week undercover investigation of the shops, said Lt. Frank A. Piersol. The suspects were arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, a felony, Piersol said.
“These were all legitimate businesses, as opposed to someone operating out of their garage or out of their car,” Piersol said. “We’re dealing with traditional business people who decided to branch out.”
The investigation involved more than 100 officers from 11 law enforcement agencies. The task force was started in April, 1988, to combat a 30% increase in car thefts in the Valley over the year before, Piersol said. He attributed a 10% drop in car thefts this year to heightened police attention.
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