5 arrested in chop shop bust in Porterville, police say

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Five people were arrested in Porterville following the discovery of stolen vehicles in a chop shop, the Porterville Police Department said.

Officers say they responded to the 900 block of North Woods Street to assist Code Enforcement with a call for service.

While on scene, responding officers report observing a Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the driveway, missing its license plates. Officers conducted a check of the vehicle’s VIN, which shows it was reported stolen out of Bakersfield.

Investigators say they also determined that one of the residents at the address was on active probation, which led them to search the property. They detained 37-year-old Ramon Ambriz, 40-year-old Alvaro Carranza, 50-year-old Claudia Islas, 42-year-old Jose Miranda-Rojero and 30-year-old Tomas Castro.

Officers report Carranza initially attempted to flee, but he was found hiding in a backyard shed. Islas was contacted in the backyard as she exited a travel trailer, later determined to be stolen out of Kern County. Additionally, Miranda-Rojero had outstanding warrants for his arrest.

A search warrant was authored for the property, and detectives say when executing it, they found parts from another Chevrolet Tahoe concealed inside an outbuilding in the backyard. After locating the VIN of some of the components, they discovered the Tahoe was stolen out of Livingston.

Investigators add that they developed credible information indicating the Tahoe had been stripped for parts on the property.

The police department says all five suspects were arrested under suspicion of operation of a chop shop, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a felony. Carranza was also arrested for resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer. Miranda-Rojero was also arrested for his outstanding warrants.