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Press release - Chop Shop Operation & Recovered Stolen Vehicles
Published 3/22/2010 (all press releases for this day)
 John Crombach Chief of Police |
Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief |
OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Chop Shop Operation & Recovered Stolen Vehicles |
| DATE/TIME: | 3/18/10, 22:45 |
| LOCATION: | 400 Blk. E. Olive Street, Oxnard |
| VICTIM(S): | |
| SUSPECT(S): | Thomas Cortez, age 47, Oxnard resident Mario Durazo, age 39, Oxnard resident Jose Esquivel, age 47, Oxnard resident Emmanuel Esquivel, age 22, Oxnard resident |
| WITNESS(ES): | |
| SUSPECT VEHICLE(S): | |
| LOSS: | |
| PREPARED BY: | Det. Patrick Dolan, Auto Theft Investigator, (805) 385-7755 |
| CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO: |
Det. Patrick Dolan, Auto Theft Investigator, (805) 385-7755 |
DETAILS:
On 3/18/10 at approximately 2245 hours, Oxnard officers responded to a possible theft of an auto tow dolly from the closed U-Haul rental yard at 3020 Saviers Rd., Oxnard. The suspects fled prior to the arrival of officers. Officers searching the area located the stolen tow dolly in the alley of the 400 block of E. Olive St. as Thomas Cortez and Mario Durazo tried to walk away. Cortez and Durazo were detained by officers and the subsequent investigation determined that a 1995 Nissan pick-up that the suspects had used to steal the tow dolly was also stolen in Oxnard on 3/17/10. Further, a 2002 Ford F-150 pick-up truck that they were attempting to load onto the stolen tow dolly in the alley was stolen in Oxnard on 3/12/10. Cortez was arrested for auto theft, a felony. Durazo was also arrested for auto theft as well for being in possession of a controlled substance (a felony) and being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor).
Further investigation revealed that the Ford truck had been stripped of its major components including the engine, transmission, hood, and seats. These missing parts and numerous other car parts were located in and around the residence behind which Cortez and Durazo were detained. Investigators from the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force contacted the residents and determined that there was a chop shop operation in place at the residence. Two of the residents, Jose Esquivel and his son, Emmanuel Esquivel, were arrested for auto theft, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, and operating a chop shop – all felonies. All four suspects were booked into Ventura County Jail.
An investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Dolan at (805) 385-7755 or Crime Stoppers at (805) 385-8255.
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