Auto theft crackdown nets dozens of stolen vehicles, 15 arrests

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - Law enforcement agencies from Riverside County and other jurisdictions dismantled a Southern California car theft ring that specialized in altering vehicle identification numbers in order to sell stolen autos, with more than 100 likely going into the used car market, authorities said today.The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Beaumont, Murrieta and Riverside police departments were among agencies participating in "Operation VIN City," which concluded Thursday with multiple search warrants being served throughout the region, netting 34 vehicle recoveries and 15 arrests, according to sheriff's officials.The Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail, or RAID, was at the forefront of the operation, which began in 2019 with investigations in Los Angeles, Orange an
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