Noel Thompson, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE AREA ONE Operations and Flying Squad Units have cracked a major car stealing ring operating between the Corporate Area and Montego Bay and have seized eight top-of-the-line vehicles valued close to $6 million. The vehicles were seized during an operation in Montego Bay between last Thursday and yesterday.
Three men have also been arrested in connection with the car theft and are at the Constant Spring Police lock-up, as crime sleuths intensify their investigations into the matter. Police have not released their names of those arrested.
Detective Inspector Louis 'Chucky' Brown, head of the Area One Flying Squad said yesterday that he is appealing to persons whose vehicles had been stolen, to come forward with proper identification and supporting documents to identify their vehicles.
Detective Sergeant Byron Miller also assisted in spearheading the investigations.
Seven of the stolen vehicles are now at the Barnett Street Police Station in Montego Bay. These include: two 1999 silver Honda Civic; two 1997 blue Honda CRVs; one 1996 silver Honda CRV; one green 1996 Honda Integra and a 2000 silver Rav4. All except the 1997 silver CRV, are affixed with licence plates. It is also suspected that the engine and chassis numbers have been tampered with. The blue CRV was identified by its owner yesterday.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Gleaner has learnt that the police is looking towards the the two Government agencies - Revenue Centre and the Island Traffic Department for clues to close their case.
This is so as genuine licence plates and up-to-date documents have been recovered for the vehicles.
It is also understood that the vehicles were stolen from persons and parking lots primarily in Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine, over a three-month period. They were subsequently sold to unsuspecting buyers from a well-known car sales outlet in Montego Bay.
It is alleged that after the vehicles were stolen, an unsuspecting sales clerk was contracted as the middle person in Montego Bay to sell the vehicles.
Some of the persons who have bought the vehicles include business persons, an electoral officer in Spanish Town, a Freezone supervisor and an insurance agent.
Meanwhile, detectives from the Organized Crime and Stolen Motor Vehicle units are to visit Montego Bay early this week to assist with the investigations.
