Dismantled parts from Muscle cars found in illegal cop shop raid
High-performance American muscle cars have been an aspiration for many.
People idolize these cars with a deep passion, often making them a part of their personality.
Sadly, these muscle cars have also long been attractive targets for thieves, and a recent incident from California confirms that the trend is far from over.
A large-scale car theft operation has been dismantled by law enforcement, with over 75 stolen high-powered vehicles recovered from two major chop shops.
The underground car-stripping operations were located in Huntington Park and Fresno.
The value of these stolen vehicles exceeds $3 million, marking this as one of the largest busts in recent memory.
Machines like the Dodge Charger Hellcat, Challenger, Durango, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk have become prime targets for theft rings.
The Chevrolet Camaro and several Infiniti models were also part of this operation.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Dodge muscle cars lead the pack regarding vehicle theft claims, with the Charger Hellcat being stolen at an alarmingly high rate.
Between model years 2020 and 2022, theft claims for the Hellcat were over 60 times higher than the average vehicle.
Often seen as symbols of power and speed, these cars become easy prey for organized crime units who strip them down and resell parts for significant profits.
After months of investigation, the Fresno Police Department’s Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCATT) uncovered two major illegal auto dismantling operations.
The operation stretched from Fresno to Huntington Park in Los Angeles County.
Police executed multiple search warrants and discovered the stolen vehicles and hundreds, if not thousands, of auto parts.
In addition to the car components, law enforcement also seized ten firearms, including several illegal short-barrel rifles.
This discovery underlined the violent and dangerous nature of the criminal enterprise, which was well-armed and highly organized. The Fresno Police Department announced these findings through a Facebook post.
Authorities have arrested seven individuals connected to the operation, with 110 felony charges filed against them so far.
However, the investigation is far from over. Law enforcement officials are still looking for two suspects: 20-year-old Julian Calderon and 22-year-old Jordan Rios.
Calderon is facing charges related to possession of stolen vehicles, conspiracy, and illegal firearms manufacturing.
Rios is wanted on similar weapons-related charges.
The investigation was a coordinated effort involving several agencies, including the Clovis and Madera Police Departments, the Fresno HEAT task force, the California Department of Corrections, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
This bust underscores the growing problem of high-performance vehicle theft across California.
According to a 2023 report by the California Highway Patrol, over half of all car thefts in the state occur in Southern California, with the Bay Area and Central Valley following behind.
With two suspects still on the run and the scale of the operation just coming into focus, more developments are likely to surface in the coming weeks.
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