Auto Thieves Who Answer Sale Ads Prompt Warning

Authorities warned the public Thursday about a scam targeting residents who advertise their cars for sale in weekly publications such as Auto Trader and Autos Recycler.

Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said professional thieves have committed the crimes in Orange and Los Angeles counties on and off for about two years.

The suspects respond to an auto ad, asking to inspect and test drive the car. During the meeting, the suspects make an imprint of the car key in clay when the seller isn’t watching. The suspects then schedule a second meeting, saying they want a relative to check out the car. Within a day, the suspects return and steal the car.

“This is an ongoing scheme,” Rackauckas said. “We’re concerned it might continue, and don’t want more people victimized.”

Authorities believe one ring has stolen six cars in Orange County this year. One man has been arrested, and police expect to make more arrests.

Steve O’Connor, a former police officer in Riverside County who lives in Orange, is one seller who had his truck stolen. O’Connor placed an ad in Photo Buy to sell his decked-out 1991 Chevy truck for $9,500.

A woman called him two weeks ago and wanted to inspect the car. She made an appointment and showed up with a baby and two men. While O’Connor and one of the men checked under the hood, the other man started the ignition. The woman said she would return the following day with another relative to test drive the truck. But when O’Connor’s girlfriend came to visit him the next day, she noticed the truck was missing. The car had been stolen from O’Connor’s driveway overnight.

An investigator with the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force found the truck in Los Angeles 10 days later and arrested Manuel Feliz Villegas, 32, of Los Angeles on suspicion of auto theft, possession of stolen property and possessing a counterfeit driver’s license.

Authorities urge sellers to meet away from their homes and record the license plate numbers, physical descriptions and names of potential buyers.