Police Thursday arrested two men suspected of running a chop shop from a South End Tacoma home.
Members of the Auto Crimes Task Force served a warrant on the home in the 3300 block of South K Street during the early-morning hours. They found an intact stolen car on the property and a stolen Infinity that had been dismantled, Lakewood police Lt. Chris Lawler said.
Police were seeking a third man in connection with the operation.
The arrests were the culmination of a two-month investigation by the task force, which is comprised of investigators from Lakewood police, Tacoma police, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and smaller agencies. The Lakewood Police Department hosts the task force, which is funded by a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority.
Investigators don’t yet know whether the suspects were stealing the vehicles themselves or buying them from someone else. They suspect the vehicles were stolen in Pierce County, then taken to the South End home to be sold or dismantled and sold for parts, Lawler said.
Undercover officers bought nine stolen vehicles from the chop-shop operator. Two of the vehicles were purchased Thursday morning before the search warrant was served, Lawler said.
One of those arrested was a 48-year-old man who was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of eight counts of taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission. The other man was booked into jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property and violating a domestic-violence protection order, Lawler said.
It’s not illegal in Washington to run a chop shop, but the task force officials would like to see the law changed so it is, Lawler said. Most people arrested in connection with a chop shop are booked on charges of possessing stolen vehicles and trafficking stolen property.
“It would be nice if you can get them for running a chop-shop operation,” Lawler said.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268 stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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