Berkeley police say a quiet East Oakland lot doubled as a busy chop shop for stolen Berkeley cars, and that two men are now in handcuffs because of it. The Last Thursday's arrests capped a multi-agency probe that followed a trail of stolen vehicles and watched engines being hauled around the site. Investigators say the operation zeroed in on Honda sedans, especially Accords and Civics, which officers note are among the most frequently stolen cars in Berkeley. Police say the investigation is still very much active.
How police tracked the operation
Officers from the Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force, working alongside Berkeley and Oakland police, followed automated license plate reader hits to a second location in East Oakland, then moved in after surveillance allegedly showed people loading engines into a pickup, according to The Mercury News. Police say the California Highway Patrol and the Union Pacific Police Department were also listed as assisting agencies.
State law and potential penalties
Under California law, knowingly owning or operating a chop shop is a crime that can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Vehicle Code 10801 makes running a chop shop a public offense punishable by up to four years in state prison, with the possibility of significant fines. Related statutes cover tampering with vehicle identification and dealing in stolen parts, and prosecutors can tack on charges involving possession of stolen vehicles or altering VINs depending on what investigators say they find.
What officers recovered at the lot
According to police, officers recovered four Honda sedans that had been recently stolen out of Berkeley, all stripped of parts and missing engines or prepped for pickup near the railroad tracks between 50th and 66th avenues. Investigators say the broader probe has tied more than 50 vehicles to the suspected parts pipeline, and that an undisclosed number of stolen cars had been completely burned in Berkeley. The two men arrested are 47 and 43 years old, and police say the older suspect already had an outstanding warrant for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, according to The Mercury News. Officers say they plan to keep tracing parts and engines in an effort to identify both victims and buyers on the back end of the alleged operation.
What residents can do
Berkeley police are urging car owners to make life harder for thieves by using steering wheel locks, choosing well-lit areas or secured garages for parking, and calling in suspicious activity quickly. Investigators are also asking anyone with video or information about stripped vehicles to contact them as the case unfolds. The Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force is expected to continue working with local agencies as they chase down new leads.
