California IN BRIEF : NEWPORT BEACH : Luxury Car Theft Ring Uncovered

An international “chop shop” ring that allegedly stripped down at least a dozen stolen Porsches worth more than $1 million and shipped the parts to Australia was uncovered after an investigation by Newport Beach police. The stolen luxury sports cars--including a limited-edition Porsche 930 Turbo valued at $130,000--had been stolen from businesses and shopping center parking lots in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa since July, said Detective Joe Thrasher. Some of the cars were stripped bare, with only a small hunk of the chassis left abandoned on neighborhood streets. Two Australian nationals residing in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach were arrested in the theft operation, along with a visiting Australian who allegedly acted as the middleman and two Americans employed by the Australians.