Tampa Police Shut Down Reported Chop Shop

TAMPA, FL – Tampa Police believe they have put a major dent in a local car theft ring by shutting down an alleged chop shop on North 40th St. where they believe stolen vehicles were being stripped for parts and resold.

After Tampa Police received a tip that known car thieves were hanging out at the Express Auto Repair at 3222 N. 40th St., Tampa, detectives and officers conducted an inspection of the repair shop at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10.

There, they found several people who claimed to be customers but the owner was not on the premises although the repair shop had been left unlocked.

In the shop, police discovered a 2012 Nissan Altima stolen out of Temple Terrace, a 1996 Buick Park Avenue stolen out of Tampa and used in a carjacking, and a 14-foot Forest River recreational vehicle trailer stolen out of Tampa.

After obtaining a search warrant, detectives worked into the night trying to determine if another 85 vehicles found at the shop were there legally. All of the vehicles and other property at the shop have been impounded as evidence or returned to their valid owners.

Police have not identified the owner of the shop and are continuing to investigate.

Photo via Google Earth