Local Chop Shop Raided

[TexasStooge]

Anti-theft device leads police to 'chop shop'

By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Police broke up a North Texas stolen vehicle "chop shop" thanks to one vehicle's anti-theft technology.

Two people were taken into custody Wednesday morning in the 2300 block of Hudspeth Avenue, caught after an anti-theft system led officers to the spot.

Detectives with the Dallas Police Auto Theft Task Force raided the home, uncovering stripped parts from stolen vehicles. Doors, car seats, and back windows - among other parts - were loaded onto a tow truck.

"It is common to find residences where they do operate as 'chop shops,' as we say, to take vehicles and split them and sell the stolen property," said Dallas Police senior corporal Jamie Kimbrough.

Officers also recovered two recently-stolen trucks, a black Dodge Ram and a white Chevrolet sitting on its rims. Police believe the suspects had just begun the process of stripping the trucks.

Tommy Chapman woke up to find his brand new truck of two months gone, stolen from an apartment complex off royal lane.

"It was crazy, because I just got it," Chapman said. "Nice rims ... everything was new on it."

The truck also included a hidden Lojack device, which took officers right to the front driveway of the suspect's home after Chapman reported it stolen just after 8 a.m.

"I'm glad they got 'em," Chapman said.

And so are officers, who had been called to the same location before on a stolen vehicle report.