Chop shop Busted on Tulalip Indian Reservation

Snohomish County, Washington– The Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force (SNOCAT) has recovered multiple stolen vehicles from a property on the Tulalip Indian Reservation with the help of the Tulalip Tribal Police.

According to a Twitter Post made on April 29th, 2016, Snocat detectives found 55 vehicles on the property as well as multiple chopped up vehicles. Detectives are calling this an illegal wrecking yard. 3 Vehicles were confirmed stolen.

Snocat Detectives tweeted that they recovered several stolen vehicles from Washington Tree and Lawn Care.

 

According to their website, the Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force (SNOCAT) is funded by a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority. The task force consists of detectives from the Marysville Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Patrol and a prosecutor from the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office.  The purpose of SNOCAT is to reduce vehicle theft in Snohomish County through pro-active enforcement efforts, apprehension of criminals who steal vehicles, and increasing public awareness of and education about auto theft.

Between 2008 and 2013, the task force has recovered 646 stolen vehicles, valued at over $5.6 million dollars. They have also recovered, $413,000.00 worth of stolen heavy machinery, and recovered over $665,000 in stolen/chopped  car parts.

The task force has investigated 89 chop shops, and interrupted 84 “car theft rings” as well as interrupted 8 export operations.   The task force has made  250 arrests for 1st and 2nd degree theft of motor vehicles, 230 arrests for possession/theft  of stolen vehicles, they have made over 500 arrests for non auto theft related crimes.