Posted on 07/06/2007 9:01:10 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Three Nuevo Laredo teenagers allegedly connected to a large-scale border car-theft ring were arrested Wednesday after a Laredo Police Department surveillance team caught the trio entering a stolen car in the parking lot of a hardware store.
Laredo Police Department spokesperson Joe E. Baeza said the three - a 14-year-old minor, and Arturo Carillo Suarez and Tomas Diaz-Vasquez, both 17 - were also found in possession of 12 Ford master keys that police believe the group was using to steal vehicles prior to their Wednesday arrest.
Two of the teens were first seen acting suspiciously near the intersection of Garden and Santa Maria. They were then observed walking to the Home Depot store on San Bernardo. En route, they met with the third suspect. And in the store's parking lot, the trio entered a white Ford Explorer that had previously been reported stolen.
At the scene, LPD officers also encountered a man who they think was an employee at the store, looking bewildered and roaming around the parking lot. Police said he told them he was looking for his car, a green Ford Mustang that he thought may have been stolen while he was inside.
After further investigation, the police concluded the Explorer had been stolen by the teens, then driven to the Home Depot parking lot. The suspects left the car and stole the Mustang, which was driven to Nuevo Laredo and left behind.
One of the detained suspects said the 14-year old was the ringleader in the operation, and had bragged about being involved in more than 150 auto thefts in the area. He added that Suarez and Diaz-Vasquez were allegedly paid $50 for each vehicle they stole.
Baeza said the department's auto theft team deserves all the credit for apprehending the individuals. The thieves had become professional, he said, vacuuming the stolen cars before driving them to avoid suspicion caused by broken glass.
Baeza said that so far this year, there have been 1,144 stolen-vehicle reports taken by LPD, including commercial trucks and trailers.
The suspects were processed at the Laredo Police Department and all three were charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, engaging in organized criminal activity, 12 counts of unlawful use of a criminal instrument, and failure to identify.
In addition, Suarez and the minor were charged with theft of a motor vehicle for the theft of the Ford Mustang.
(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2547, or email jaguilar@lmtonline.com)
Los dos Laredos ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
in possession of 12 Ford master keys ...
Did not realize that autos used master keys. Makes sense, but aren’t these things supposed to be kept under lock and key?
Why broken glass if they have a master key?
Just came over to do a little “shopping”! Wouldn’t want to inhibit commerce, with our sister city, don’t you know!
They don't. These keys are made by others. And for just $129.95 you can own them too.
http://www.keepshooting.com/lockpicks/autolockouttools/ford-master-keys.htm
“Why broken glass if they have a master key?’
Good help is so hard to find...
Mexican officials do not act kindly to US police operating in Mexico don’t cha know.
Demand a border fence! Build it NOW!! Beef up the border patrol and close our borders!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)
Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!
A bit naive, aren't you. The US cops can't follow them into Mexico, and the Mexican police are usually in on the deal.
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