Mocobizscene- Six individuals, including a minor, have been apprehended by the Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force for their involvement in an auto theft ring.
Fabian Rodriguez, age 29, along with Jose Martinez, age 30, Alejandro Reyes, age 24, Juan Rodriguez, age 31, and Michael Villegas, age 26, have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. The sheriff’s office has revealed that there was also a juvenile involved, who was 16 years old at the time.
Lt. Hal Barrow, who is in charge of the auto crimes task force, has revealed that the ongoing investigation into the thefts began back in June 2023.
In Galveston, Harris, and Brazoria counties, a staggering number of 100 cars have been stolen, amounting to a jaw-dropping $4.6 million. According to law enforcement officials, the primary targets of these thieves are Chevy and GMC trucks manufactured from 2020 onwards.
According to Barrow, they employ a computer to access the OBD reader on the vehicles and start them using this method. An OBD reader is the port used for vehicle diagnostics, he explained.
Investigators suspect that a cartel is responsible for training the individuals who make up the theft ring. Furthermore, it is believed that certain cars are being driven across the border as part of their criminal operations. Out of the 12 vehicles that were stolen from Galveston County and a number of cars stolen from other counties, authorities have successfully recovered eight of them. Several vehicles have been listed for sale online.
According to Barrow, these criminals engage in a deceitful practice by rebranding stolen vehicles with a new Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and posting them for sale on popular online platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. They take advantage of unsuspecting buyers who are searching for a good deal, only to find out later that they have purchased a stolen vehicle.
Barrow suggests that protecting your vehicle from thieves can be achieved by installing a security system or using a steering wheel lock. The arrested men are currently held on $200,000 bonds, as authorities suspect the involvement of additional individuals in the theft ring.
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