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A stolen car ring operating between San Diego, Seattle, Newark, Buffalo and the Ukraine came to a screeching halt on August 13th when US Customs and FBI agents teamed up to put them out of business.
Two Seattle area Ukranian nationals were placed under arrest in San Diego and further arrests are expected.
Initial suspicions arose when customs agents spotted stolen vehicles being shipped from Newark to the Ukraine. During the course of the ensuing investigation, agents bought six stolen vehicles, each of which had altered VINs.
Further investigation revealed a pattern; the thieves would buy a junk vehicle at auction and then steal a similar vehicle. The VIN plates would be switched and the good car would be reregistered as a salvage, supported by phony parts receipts for its alleged repair. The car would next be sold or shipped out of the country.
A large number of the reregistrations were effected in Oregon because that state does little to check vehicle identification numbers before granting a title.
Although unsubstantiated, it is suspected that there are organized crime ties between the Ukraine and the Northwest.
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