GILROY
– Police busted a third suspected chop shop in just over a
month.
GILROY – Police busted a third suspected chop shop in just over a month.
A chop shop is where stolen vehicles are disassembled then later sold for parts.
Officer Jeff Roccaforte, with the Gilroy Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team, investigated all three and said Friday they are “unrelated as far as I can tell.”
At 9120 Murray Ave. Thursday, police recovered a van that had been reported stolen from Hollister and a car reported stolen from Gilroy, Roccaforte said. The van was “totally stripped” of parts, he said, and the car was somewhat stripped.
Police are investigating, but have made no arrests.
On April 30, patrol officers discovered what they said was another chop shop while investigating a report of child abuse at a home on the corner of Martin and Railroad streets.
Inside, the officer saw car parts and called in Roccaforte, who determined that a 2000 Ford F150 in the garage was stolen and that the scattered parts matched that truck. Police temporarily detained the couple who live in the house, and referred their children to Child Protective Services.
The district attorney filed charges against Erasmo Salinas, 26, of 111 Martin St., for operating a chop shop and possession of a stolen vehicle, Roccaforte said.
Earlier in April, the ACT served a search warrant at a house at 1855 Pacheco Pass Highway and found a stolen vehicle, stolen auto parts, counterfeit checks and drugs, according to Roccaforte.
