They has several cars and items used to alter odometers.
Car theft is a pretty broad crime. Thieves sometimes target car showrooms, whereas other times, they make everyday people the victims. Facebook Marketplace is often involved, and police in Illinois recently uncovered something of the sort operating from a random backyard.
Car theft and the Facebook marketplace go hand in hand, as thieves often use the platform to sell stolen cars
According to The Country Herald, a law enforcement investigation into car theft recently led Will County, Illinois, authorities to find several stolen vehicles. Apparently, they were granted a search warrant for an address in Joliet, Illinois, where they found several stolen cars in the residence’s backyard. This operation included 11 vehicles, a trailer, and a Kubota tractor. They also found various devices typically used to change odometers and to reprogram keys.
As mentioned, the people involved with this car theft ring used the Facebook marketplace to sell the items. However, the report doesn’t say if the people got the vehicles from car showrooms or other means. The property owner has been charged with 11 counts of possession of stolen cars. They processed the 38-year-old man at the Joliet Police Department. He has now been released but has a Notice to Appear.
Car theft is a wide-reaching crime that impacts more than those whose vehicles go missing. In many cases, the perpetrators use these stolen vehicles to commit other crimes, making this a threat to public safety. Luckily, many places around the country have specific task forces to combat car theft. Still, people should be cautious when buying used cars from the Facebook marketplace.
