Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Police: 28 people arrested in Las Vegas-area fake auto ID operation

Authorities have arrested 28 people and recovered 19 stolen vehicles as part of an investigation into a vehicle identification number switching ring operating in the Las Vegas area, according to Metro Police.

Detectives with the Southern Nevada Auto Theft Task Force began investigating the ring late last year, police said. The operation involved removing and fabricating vehicle VINs and placing them on stolen cars, police said.

“This was a very complex operation where suspects manufactured fake VIN plates and door stickers that appeared to be factory-issued,” Metro said in a news release.

Eighteen people were arrested locally, and 10 were apprehended in California and Arizona, police said. Metro recovered stolen vehicles worth over $597,000, seven guns and a large quantity of illegal narcotics, police said.

The suspects face various charges that include operating a chop shop, possession of a stolen vehicle, trafficking controlled substances, prohibited persons in possession of firearms and forgery-related crimes, Metro said.

The task force is made up of detectives from Metro, the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Nevada Department of Investigations and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.