Police: nine charged in car theft scheme that cost victims more than $1 million
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has charged nine people in a scheme that involved stealing cars in Houston and reselling them online.
According to the sheriff’s office, the group – eight of whom have been arrested – would steal cars from dealership lots in Houston by making keys. The vehicles were then sold on Craigslist and OfferUp with doctored documents.
Police said they’ve recovered twenty nine vehicles so far, all of them GM models. Silverados, Yukons, Tahoes and Escalades ranging from two thousand nine to two thousand fourteen models were among the stolen vehicles. They were mostly resold in Houston, but some went to Dallas and San Antonio.
In addition to stealing the vehicles, police said the suspects were able to falsify titles. The sheriff’s office said the total loss in retail value to dealers was $787,294. Buyers of the vehicles lost $229,000.
Victims of the scheme include twenty five dealers and twenty seven buyers. The accused criminals targeted latest immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries. Police said the thieves targeted immigrants, believing they wouldn’t report stolen vehicles.
During the investigation, the sheriff’s office said the seized $8,600 in cash from the suspects. Four guns were also seized, including two AR-15s.
Police believe there are more stolen vehicles from Houston in similar illegal schemes. Investigators said they will proceed to recover them.
A sheriff’s office representative said that it’s not illegal to buy a stolen vehicle, but once the vehicle is identified as stolen, the purchaser cannot keep it. Money spent on the vehicle often times cannot be recovered since it was unknowingly given to a criminal.
Police said eight of the suspects have been charged with felony theft. Some of the suspects face felony charges of money laundering. One person faces a felony charge of reporting false credit.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Twitter account, suspect Joshua Azpiazu remains at large. He is identified as playing a role in the stolen car scheme.
To avoid buying a potentially stolen vehicle, police suggest checking the vehicle’s VIN number. They also suggest traveling with the seller to the Harris County Tax Office, where clerks can verify the vehicle’s ownership documents. Police suggest not buying vehicles from websites and to get a copy of decent identification from the seller.
Anyone with information about Azpiazu’s whereabouts or the location of the vehicles is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 281-446-4399.