A 35-year-old man identified as Javier Navarro, was arrested by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office last week for allegedly conducting a fraudulent scheme dealing with stolen vehicles. Navarro is facing charges of theft of a vehicle under $30,000 and theft by fraud. The bonds for each charge are set at $5,000 according to KFOX-TV. The report shows that Navarro unlawfully entered a gated property on the 3600 block of Augusta, from where the vehicles were reportedly stolen and subsequently sold. The police uncovered two primary victims, the original owner of 10 vehicles valued around $26,000 and another individual who was swindled out of $1,600.
The case took a turn when, during the investigation, Navarro apparently contacted the second victim asking for additional payment. This led the investigators to set up a sting operation near Zaragoza Road and North Loop Drive, where the suspect was apprehended. KTSM notes that six of the stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to their rightful owner. It is not clear what happened to the other four vehicles as of now.
In a related incident, a chase ensued on Monday afternoon near I-10 in East El Paso, disrupting traffic as law enforcement pursued suspects in connection with a stolen vehicle. The Texas Department of Public Safety, after assisting the El Paso Police Department, soon "ended up taking the lead" in the chase, as per KFOX-TV. The incident led to the temporary closure of the right lane on Gateway East following Hawkins, causing a minor backup for drivers.
The El Paso community has been alerted to these incidents of vehicle theft and is advised to remain vigilant. As cases of car theft and scams persist, and as demonstrated by the recent police chase, the consequences can extend beyond just the victims to impact local traffic and commuter schedules. Traffic alerts and updates were issued by the Texas Department of Transportation, highlighting the broader implications of such criminal activity in the area. No connections have been confirmed between this chase and Navarro's scheme.
