Fresno Police arrested three men Sunday, after uncovering a chop shop. It happened on Marks Avenue between Muscat and Central.
Fresno Police Sgt. Timothy Tietjen said, “We have been on surveillance with this crew of individuals that we thought were stripping cars, stealing cars on a nightly basis, stripping them and then obviously selling the parts on Craigslist or running up to LA, a lot of different locations of possibilities.”
Police have arrested 31-year-old Larry Shepard, 41-year-old Robert Saenz, and 33-year-old Mark Barnes. Investigators followed them to the back of a home and watched as the suspects began to strip a stolen Chevy Silverado. Police also found several rifles and stolen items on the property.
“Were finding they're stripping one car at a time and transferring the parts into another car. They drive it off and you find the other car burned down the roadway and there’s no evidence on the property that they even stripped the vehicle,” said Tietjen.
Police believe the suspects have been involved in a number of auto thefts and burglaries in the city and county. They say more arrests will likely be made. The investigation is ongoing.
The suspects were arrested on several charges, including possession of firearms, stripping chop shop and auto theft.
TXT 24
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