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Feb 8, 2008 5:06 pm US/Central
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Cops Bust 18-Wheeler Chop Shop Near Keller
KELLER (CBS 11 News) ―
An observant patrol officer helped lead officials to a unique chop shop in Tarrant County – one for 18-wheelers.
The chop shop may have gone unnoticed if it weren't for a flat-bed truck, driving too slow along the highway that caught the attention of a Keller police officer.
According to reports, the officer saw the 18-wheeler being towed and stopped the driver.
After authorities got a search permit for a warehouse on Keller Haslet Road, they found several 18 wheelers that were, "basically in the process of being cut apart."
Investigators from the Tarrant Regional Auto Crime Task Force spent hours at the warehouse Friday, collecting evidence.
Det. Jesse Minton said the raid yielded more than $100,000 worth of stolen goods from Dallas, Balch Springs and Mesquite.
"I've never seen an 18-wheeler chop shop in my career," Minton said. "I've never found this many in one place all being torn apart at the same time."
Authorities say they have several strong leads in the case and one person has been arrested.
"That's what these criminals are looking for -- ways to make an illegal dollar off of the backs of these hard-working truckers who are feeding their families with these rigs."
Investigators will contact the victims and get back as much of their property as possible, Minton said.
"You just never know where something like this might be going on," he added.
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