Car Theft Ring Stole $3 Million in Chargers, Challengers & Other Muscle Cars, Cops Say
A large-scale 'chop shop' auto theft ring in California that specialized in stealing high-performance domestic vehicles, including Chevrolet Camaros and various Dodge Hellcat models, has been shut down, according to the Fresno Police Department. Seven arrests have been made so far, with 110 felony counts levied against them; two additional suspects are still being sought.
Over the past six months, the Fresno Police Department's Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCATT) has been investigating an auto theft ring responsible for stealing powerful performance cars, the department said in a Facebook post. The investigation eventually led them to a couple of large-scale 'chop shops' located in Huntington Park and Fresno, CA.
Police said they identified 75 stolen cars, including Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Durangos, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks, Chevrolet Camaros and unnamed Infiniti models. The vehicles are estimated to be worth more than $3 million in total. Multiple firearms, including illegal short-barrel rifles, were also found.
According to a 2023 report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Dodge muscle cars were the most stolen vehicles for the 2020-2022 model years. Theft claims for the Charger Hellcat were more than 60 times more frequent than the average for all 2020-22 models, relative to their numbers on the road. The Hemi-powered Charger and Challenger models have been among the top five most stolen vehicles since 2011.
The two outstanding suspects still being sought in connection to this recently busted car theft ring are 20 year-old Julian Calderon and 22 year-old Jordan Rios, police say. Anyone with information regarding auto theft in the Fresno area can call the CCATT tip line at 559-621-CCAT (2228), or email CCATT at ccatt@fresno.gov.
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