Camaro & Corvette Chop Shop Operation Busted in NorCal
Three men were arrested, and over $600,000 worth of Camaro and Corvette cars and parts were recovered.
Talk about a timely story. We just ran an article a couple of weeks ago about the soaring rate at which sixth-generation Camaros are getting stolen. It is a problem all over the country, but it is particularly bad in the Los Angeles area.
Just a couple hundred miles away in rural Tracy, California, a chop shop that specialized in Camaro and Corvette cars was raided by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force. Twelve stolen vehicles were discovered. Ten Camaros and two Corvettes were found in various states of dismantling. In addition to the cars, there was a treasure trove of stolen parts such as doors, seats, and hoods on the property. In total the value of the stolen cars and parts exceeded $600,000.
The CHP San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force is comprised of CHP, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, San Joaquin County DA’s Office, Stockton PD, Tracy PD, Manteca PD and the San Joaquin County Probation Department. When they executed the search warrant and discovered the stolen cars and parts, they were able two arrest two male suspects at the scene.
A third male suspect was located in nearby Manteca, California. All three suspects were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on charges of operating a chop shop and stolen vehicle possession. And these thieves were not happy with the typical Kia, Hyundai, or Honda Civic. These men were hunting bigger game and focused on the Camaro and Corvette.
Camaro Vulnerability
The problem with the sixth-generation Camaro is its OBDII port vulnerability. Our very own Derin Richardson learned this the hard way. His 2018 Camaro 1SS was stolen last November. And as if that wasn’t bad enough his recently acquired Camaro 2SS was broken into just a couple of months later. The only reason that car wasn’t also stolen was because of the OBD blocker and other security layers that he had installed. But make no mistake, there is a war being wagged against the Camaro by professional car thieves.
‘Why’ and ‘How’
The why is easy. Stealing a car is a quick way to make some money. And the how is really not that much more complicated. “Thieves use a handheld diagnostic tool purchased from eBay or some other source, tap into your car’s ‘neural net,’ program new keys and drive right off. The fuse for the OnStar system is pulled immediately, or the system is deactivated via the handheld,” explains Richardson. At that point, your Camaro is gone. It is posted up for sale or taken to a chop shop and dismantled for parts.
Recovery Is Rare
What makes this recent chop shop bust so extraordinary is that unfortunately arrests, and recovery of stolen cars is rare. Car theft is a major issue, and the police are overwhelmed. And even when thieves are caught the punishment is typically not very harsh. Certainly not harsh enough to satisfy those that have had their pride and joy stolen.
Hopefully, the three men arrested at this Camaro and Corvette chop shop are off the streets for a long time. But still, we urge everyone to protect yourself with an OBD blocker and a kill switch. Protect your car!
Photos: CHP – Tracy Division
Join the LS1Tech forums now!
