'Chop Shop' With Stolen Cars Worth $225K Found In Crownsville: Police

CROWNSVILLE, MD — Suspects from Severn and Crownsville have been charged with taking part in a vehicle theft ring and "chop shop" that turned up stolen vehicles worth more than a quarter of a million dollars, authorities say. Officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department and several other agencies raided 1164 Saint Stephens Church Road in Crownsville on July 11.

The search and seizure warrant executed was the result of an investigation into an ongoing organized vehicle theft operation and “chop shop” linked to a person renting property at that location.

During the search warrant execution, investigators recovered ten vehicles worth an estimated $225,000 that had been reported stolen from six different jurisdictions within the Baltimore/Washington region. In addition, a large quantity of ammunition and a loaded stolen handgun were reportedly recovered.

Two suspects found on the premises and arrested are Gary Renerio Proctor Jr., 29, of Pine Grove Court in Severn, and Robert William Sanchuk, 31, of Saint Stephens Church Road in Crownsville. They were charged with numerous crime related to the stolen property concealed on the property, police sy.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed, police say. Anyone with information about other vehicle thefts is asked to contact the department’s Auto Theft Squad at 410-222-4734; or the police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department has a detective assigned to both Baltimore and Washington regional task forces that investigat motor vehicle theft trends, exportation and/or trafficking of stolen vehicles, illegal chop shops, vehicle insurance fraud, selling of stolen vehicles to scrap yards, and related crimes.

“We appreciate the cooperative efforts and great relationships our detectives are able to build with our allied agencies through participation in the two regional auto theft task forces,” said Criminal Investigation Division Captain Herbert H. Hasenpusch. “This investigation confirms what we already know; that criminals involved in organized vehicle theft enterprises such as this one have no regard for jurisdictional boundaries. Due to our geographic location between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, being a member of both of these task forces is a force multiplier for us and leads to better information sharing and coordinated investigative efforts.”

»Photos of Gary Renerio Proctor Jr. and Robert William Sanchuk, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police