Last week, the Bernalillo County Sheriff Department announced that they had investigated a suspected "chop-shop" vehicle theft ring and recovered 16 stolen vehicles from the operation.
According to a statement by the department on Facebook, 11 of the 16 recovered vehicles originated from the City of Albuquerque. The remaining 5 came from the surrounding areas. The department says that it is conducting an extensive investigation.
“As the Sheriff of Bernalillo County, it is crucial we stay proactive in our policing to deter auto thefts and other crimes from occurring," Sheriff Manny Gonzales said in the post. "Another priority of our office is to put forth cases with a high chance for successful prosecution. If we do not make arrests and hold bad actors accountable, it is impossible to create trust with the citizens we have sworn to protect. This is another example of BCSO doing excellent police work and solving criminal cases.”
