A months-long auto theft investigation that kicked off on April 7, 2025, has ended with Montgomery County detectives hauling away more than $247,000 worth of stolen vehicles, motorcycles and car parts in Gaithersburg, and arresting two people in the process. Police say search warrants at a residence and a storage unit turned up roughly 10 stolen cars, three stolen motorcycles and a cache of parts investigators link to a large-scale theft operation. The case began after officers found a stolen vehicle near Frederick Road and Shady Grove Road.
As reported by The MoCo Show, detectives traced the case back to that April 7, 2025, recovery and then widened it into a multi-jurisdictional probe. The outlet says the arrests were announced Thursday and identifies the two people taken into custody as Jessy Alexander Cruz and Claudia Stacie Herrera. The coverage also includes a post from the Montgomery County Department of Police that lists the vehicles and parts recovered.
What detectives recovered
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, search warrants at a Gaithersburg home and a storage unit yielded about 10 stolen vehicles, three stolen motorcycles and numerous auto parts. Investigators estimated the total value at more than $247,000 and credited the seizures to coordinated work by the department's Auto Crime Enforcement unit.
Auto theft in Montgomery County
The case lands at a time when overall auto theft numbers are edging down locally. The department's 2024 annual report notes that motor vehicle thefts fell about 13 percent that year and highlights the Auto Crime Enforcement Section's targeted work, including Hyundai anti-theft software upgrade events designed to blunt organized theft crews. The report points out that thefts of particular models and high-demand parts have driven recent trends and repeats the usual advice about basic precautions like locking doors, parking in well-lit spots and keeping valuables out of sight. Those small moves, officials say, make it harder for organized operations to profit off stolen vehicles and components.
How to submit tips
Anyone with information about the recoveries is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477 or the Montgomery County non-emergency line at 301-279-8000. Tips may remain anonymous, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. The investigation is still active, and detectives are urging anyone who has surveillance or other video that could be relevant to contact investigators.
