PHILIPSBURG--A multi-disciplinary task force, including police, swooped down on a body shop on Bush Road on Friday afternoon to recover some nineteen stolen cars and slap handcuffs on five people, including one woman, suspected of being part of a car theft ring.
Authorities were alerted about the car thieves after a man who believed he had bought a small car legitimately went to the Inspection Department on Pond Island for the required checks. Department personnel saw that the car was one that had been reported stolen some time ago and alerted police.
The car buyer reportedly helped the task force find the man from whom he had bought this car. The seller was contacted with a request for the purchase of another car. The seller was arrested by task force officers on his arrival at the meeting place outside of Festival Village, as he was in possession another stolen car.
That arrest led police to the body shop on Bush Road where it appears neighbours had not thought twice about the number of cars kept at the shop due to the nature of the business.
Police and other Justice authorities were at the scene from around 4:00pm until 8:00pm, cataloguing vehicles and parts, as well as suspected stolen car parts confiscated from the home of one of the ringleaders.
The vehicles were mostly small cars. It is believed that about three of the vehicles may have been at the body shop for legitimate repairs. However, the authorities had at least five tow trucks moving all the vehicles to a secure location where all paperwork, if found, can be matched to owners.
