Chop Shop Busted Near Lake Elsinore; Suspect Nabbed: Police

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A recent stolen vehicle and the keen use of a tracking system led to the discovery of an "organized auto theft ring" near Southwest Riverside County, according to police reports. On Wednesday, sheriff's deputies arrested 27-year-old Rafael Quintero on suspicion of operating a chop shop.

An alleged victim of Quintero's operation helped lead authorities to a location in the 21000 block of Terrace Avenue in the unincorporated area of Good Hope, according sheriff's Sgt. Chad Thompson. That victim's vehicle had been stolen from Cambern Avenue in Lake Elsinore.

"A victim of vehicle theft directed responding officers to the [Good Hope location]," Thompson said in a news release. "Using GPS tracking systems, the victim had located the precise location of his stolen vehicles."

While at the Terrace Avenue location, officers located the victim's vehicles, according to Thompson.

"Furthermore, officers discovered parts from stolen vehicles, additional stolen vehicles, license plates, evidence of overt efforts to conceal VIN information, and evidence of an organized auto theft ring," he said.

Quintero was arrested and subsequently booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of maintaining an organized auto theft ring, Thompson said.

Jail records show that Quintero posted $25,000 bail the next day and was released from custody. He's currently slated to appear in court in February.

— Booking photo courtesy Riverside County Sheriff's Department / City News Service contributed to this report