Detroit Police arrest 5 in chop shop bust

Police raid suspected chop shop on Detroit's west side

DETROIT – Detroit Police raided a suspected chop shop Thursday on Detroit's west side. Five people are in custody.

After receiving an anonymous tip of suspected chop shop activities at a residence on Detroit's Westside, Detroit police officers assigned to the Commercial Auto Theft Section launched an investigation that led to the arrest of five suspects and recovered eight 8 stolen vehicles.

In addition, 34 vehicles were impounded, four ordinance violations were issued, and one stolen firearm was recovered and confiscated, police said.

Police believe that they recovered stolen parts from approximately eight vehicles that were stolen throughout the city of Detroit and Oakland County.

Officers responded to the 15000 block of Cruse on Tuesday after receiving a tip about suspected chop shop activities in the back yard of a residence.

Officers saw three people removing the engine and transmission from a stripped gray GMC Yukon. A short time later, officers observed a fourth person arriving at the residence in an older-model Chevy pickup truck. All four loaded the engine and transmission from the gray GMC Yukon into the bed of the truck.

Officers descended upon the suspects and placed them into custody. Upon further investigation, police determined that the GMC Yukon was stolen and later recovered a stolen black Mercedes Benz Sl-550 located on the property.

Officers said they received information about another person engaged in the buying and housing stolen vehicles and parts at two additional locations, one on Greenfield and the other on Freeland Street.

Police on Wednesday saw a man in a red 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, pulling away from a business in the 8500 block of Greenfield. The vehicle was carrying gray doors in the bed of the truck, possibly belonging to the stolen GMC from Tuesday. Officers made a traffic stop, confirmed that the parts were stolen, and placed the man into custody. A search warrant was later conducted and six stolen vehicles were recovered.

"Due to the community support, along with the quick response and thorough investigation by our officers, a chop shop has been identified and dissolved," Detroit Police Chief James E. Craig said. "This is yet another example of how the community and law enforcement can work together to combat crime."