Nationwide auto theft ring leads to Bay Area car business: CA AG

(KRON) — Forty felony charges were filed Thursday against eight people tied to a nationwide auto theft ring and “complex” altered vehicle identification number scheme. The suspects then sold the 19 stolen cars out of their Bay Area business, announced California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

The total value of the stolen vehicles is more than $800,000.

AG Bonta said the felony charges include conspiracy, auto-theft, possession of stolen property, and selling a vehicle with an altered VIN. The cars with changed VINs were allegedly re-registered through the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles before being brought to the Bay Area.

“The California Department of Justice will continue to do our part to protect Californians from organized criminal theft and combat the underground economy,” said Bonta in a news release.

The complaint was filed in Alameda County Superior Court.

“These eight defendants took advantage of innocent car buyers, and they got caught. The DMV is focused on ending these scams for good,” added DMV Director Steve Gordon.