Operation Chevy Chase
Article By SGT. Steve Warzee
Coastal Division Central Sector Investigative Services Unit
San Luis Obispo County Auto Theft Taskforce Supervisor
Beginning in September of 2023, the San Luis Obispo County Auto Theft Taskforce (SLOCATT) began identifying numerous victims of stolen vehicles stolen from private parties and car dealerships which were being VIN switched and resold to unsuspecting victims. The SLOCATT team immediately began a proactive response, identifying the suspects, while partnering with local allied agencies and stakeholders throughout southern and central California to build their case. The overall objective of this partnership has been to investigate this theft ring to the greatest extent possible, while identifying, and eliminating the numerous VIN switched stolen vehicles, which have created a substantial victim loss across thirteen California Counties.
Dubbed Operation Chevy Chase, investigative leads led to numerous surveillance operations which showed several separate suspect crews stealing and VIN-switching vehicles from as far away as the State of Texas and victimizing citizens of the State of California through fraudulent resale. Utilizing resources available, SLOCATT established an investigative plan that would cause severe disruption to the theft ring who was utilizing Autel devices and key swaps to expedite the thefts and add to their inventory of VIN switched stolen vehicles. During a training conference in 2023, SLOCATT took the lead and began linking evidence seized from other task force and/or allied agency arrests of crew members and providing training and education to our LE partners on these new trends and best practices for evidence gathering.
Since learning of the extent to which Autel was utilized in these thefts and the team’s continuing investigation, SLOCATT has identified other cases, assisted allied agencies, and are solely responsible for the recovery of approximately sixty stolen, VIN switched vehicles, stolen throughout California and the Western United States, with a recovery amount estimated at over $2.5 million dollars. This investigation has led to the arrest and prosecution of more than twenty suspects, the recovery of four firearms, and the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars.
