Bexar County deputies detained at least seven people on Monday at a suspected chop shop on the south side of Von Ormy, after a stolen pickup’s GPS pinged to a rural property in the 17100 block of Benton City Road. Deputies said they found a 21-year-old man sitting inside the stolen white truck, then uncovered a second stolen vehicle while combing through the site. Investigators have not released any names and say the case is still very much in motion.
According to KSAT, the truck’s owner reported it stolen at about 4 a.m. and used the vehicle’s GPS to track it down. Deputies detained the 21-year-old at the scene and held six more people who were on the property. The sheriff’s office said some of those detained already had active warrants and that additional arrests could follow as detectives work the case.
Chop-shop networks in Bexar County
Investigators in Bexar County have unraveled similar suspected operations in recent years, describing crews that strip stolen vehicles for parts, then move the haul through informal resale channels. A Northside probe in 2024 turned up multiple stripped vehicles and resulted in organized-crime allegations, according to reporting by MySA. Those cases highlighted how quickly parts can be recycled and how much detectives depend on tips and license plate checks to match loose parts back to stolen cars.
What deputies found at the Von Ormy site
At the Von Ormy property, deputies said they recovered a second stolen vehicle and other items that looked like the makings of a dismantling operation. Investigators are now logging every part they pulled from the scene and working to trace ownership records, while trying to determine whether the property served as a hub for selling parts locally or shipping them out of state. KSAT reported those details from a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office news conference.
Legal stakes
When detectives uncover what they believe is a chop shop, prosecutors can stack up a range of potential charges, including theft, receiving stolen property and, in some cases, organized-crime counts if there is evidence of coordinated dismantling and resale. Past Bexar County prosecutions have included organized-crime allegations after deputies found stripped vehicles and proof that parts were being resold, as reported by MySA. In the Von Ormy case, the sheriff’s office says it will send evidence to prosecutors as detectives build out the file.
The sheriff’s office has not yet released booking information or specific charges for anyone detained at the property. Officials are urging residents who spot suspicious vehicle activity or scrapyard operations in south Bexar County to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
