Chop Shop Dismantled, 8 Arrested
March 5th, 2008 @ 5:35pm
by Sandra Haros/KTAR

Working on a tip, DPS dismantled a chop shop in the southwest Valley.

Eight illegal immigrants are responsible for stealing cars from the Phoenix area and dismantling them near 27th Avenue and Van Buren Street.

Arizona Vehicle Theft Taskforce Sargeant Doug Hardin said the suspects were taking the parts to Mexico.

"We have six known stolen vehicles and we have 12 frames from vehicles that are just sitting by themselves and all of the identification parts have been cut out. From Chrysler to Chevy, there's a Honda, and the rest of them, we're not even sure what the frames are," Hardin said.

Authorities said the operation went on for as long as a year.

All the suspects have been arrested, in addition to the property owner who rented space for the operation.

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