LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Nevada DMV Compliance Division busted a family run business of switching out VIN numbers in cars Thursday.
Acosta Hernandez was charged with two counts of possession of stolen vehicle and two counts of possession of vehicle with altered VIN.
This was a crime that started across the country and landed in Las Vegas.
The DMV Compliance Division invited FOX5 exclusively to come along as officers made their arrests. The two SUV’s in question were stolen out of Florida.
“The detective in the jurisdiction of where the vehicles were stolen identified that the vehicles might be in Nevada,” Chief J.D. Decker with the Nevada DMV Compliance Division said.
Decker’s team was able to track down the cars.
“We followed the vehicle to a residence and tied the residence to the people we are looking at,” Decker said.
After receiving a tip from the National Insurance Crime Bureau that these cars had their VIN numbers switched out, Decker knew they had to act fast. This ring is operated by two brothers.
“The longer we wait, the more chances they dispose the vehicles or take them out of state. Then, we lose the evidence against them,” Decker said.
Decker’s team put together an arrest warrant Wednesday with the hopes of catching the culprits the next day.
As soon as officers arrived to the house, FOX5 camera’s captured the garage doors opening. This led law enforcement to swarm in as Hernandez came out, but his brother was no where to be found.
Two other women at the home seemed to have no idea what was going on.
However, at the property there were two of those SUVs on site with Florida license plates.
“They are definitely in position of two solen vehicles,” Decker said. He says this illegal operation can be very profitable.
“So if you stole it, and got it for free, you could probably sell for a hundred thousand each,” Decker said.
Police also tell FOX5 they also found drugs, and thousands of dollars of cash and credit card swiping machines inside the house.
Decker said it is important for the public to know what they should look at for when purchasing a vehicle in a private sale, as law enforcement will impound a car once they know it is stolen.
According to Decker, here is what you can to do protect yourself if you plan on buying a car in a private sale:
- Both buyer and seller should meet at a DMV
- Utilize the DMV’s VIN inspection system
- Make sure car title matches the seller’s name.
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