RSSAccording to police in the Los Angeles area, the man they believe is responsible for a string of car thefts may be responsible for similar crimes. A 23-year-old from Wilmington has been accused of stealing a Toyota Prius, as well as two trucks, from DCH Toyota. Torrance police now believe the same man may be connected to other thefts in the area.
The two trucks the man is accused of stealing were both vehicles that had been brought in to DCH for maintenance. One was a Toyota Tacoma and the other FJ Cruiser. Interestingly, they were alleged to have been stolen this August during the course of daily business.
According to the manager of DCH Toyota, someone stole keys from the service area and simply drove off with the vehicles. One of the stolen car’s owners mentioned she initially thought the crime was a joke and was shocked to find out what apparently happened. The dealership has since offered loaner vehicles to those whose cars were taken and has noted its plans to obtain a new surveillance system. The dealership has also featured on-duty guards since August 18.
The general manager noted that suspicions were raised about the man after it was discovered that the man had worked at DCH in the past; reportedly the man served as a porter for a business whose contract concluded this past January. As a result, hiring practices related to vendors will be up for review and detectives are actively investigation the man’s past employment with other car dealership vendors.
One of the stolen Toyotas has yet to be located. However, another missing vehicle, a Dodge, has been found and it’s believed that car may also have been taken from a dealership.
While each theft case is unique, the consequences of a conviction depend upon the value of the item stolen. Petty thefts are those concerning items valued at $400 or less; of course, autos are far more expensive and thus are considered “grand” thefts.
Allegations of stealing a car or other valuable items are not to be taken lightly. Contact criminal defense lawyer Jonathan I. Kelman at 310.286.1218 to initiate an assertive defense against theft or related charges.