Thieves with a taste for old-school rides have brought a crime wave to Vacaville over the winter, with a rash of car thefts plaguing the residents. But the cops are pulling the brakes on this illegal operation. According to the Vacaville Police Department, multiple search warrants led to the cracking of a case involving numerous stolen vehicles, most notably 2000’s model Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.
The department's Crime Impact Team detectives hit the dirt, finding evidence that helped identify several suspects allegedly up to their elbows in Grand Theft Auto. On May 16, the detectives dismantled part of the operation in Dunnigan and Woodland, CA, serving search warrants and authoring several arrest warrants. Driving a suspect Chevrolet Silverado—with a VIN number switched and identified as stolen from Rocklin in 2016—Ricardo Elias-Corona was nabbed en route to one of the residences.
Hot on the heels of the first bust, detectives didn't let up, zeroing in on a second location in Woodland. Playing out like a scene from a cop show, a white Chevrolet Silverado beat a hasty retreat from the premises only to be stopped by the law. Behind the wheel, Edgar Olmedo, found with switched VINs and driving a truck stolen from Vacaville last December, according to the Vacaville Police Department, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and slapped with new charges.
Both Elias-Corona and Olmedo face serious consequences for their alleged roles in what has been dubbed a "chop shop" operation. The former is staring down the barrel of charges, including possession of stolen property and vehicle theft. At the same time, the latter must contend with possession of a stolen vehicle and tampering with VINs. This crackdown underscores the department's commitment to putting the brakes on a spree deemed financially and emotionally taxing for their community, the impacts of which can burden a family beyond just the dollar signs, as noted by the Vacaville Police Department.
Community safety is the primary goal, with the Vacaville Police stating they are "dedicated to combating vehicle thefts in our community and holding those responsible accountable for their actions."
