Connecticut State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

Connecticut State Police Patch STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Department of Public Safety
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, Connecticut 06457		  
Contact: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2010
STATE POLICE AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE INVESTIGATES,
MAKES ARRESTS IN LARGE AUTO THEFT RING
   In December of 2008, State Police Auto Theft Detectives working with Troopers from Troop “G” initiated a criminal investigation into multiple Stolen Vehicles throughout the greater Bridgeport area. The investigation involved vehicles that had been stolen with the use of a Tow-Truck and these vehicles had been stolen after becoming disabled on the side of the road or when they were parked in a commuter parking areas. Investigators determined that the stolen vehicles were being sold as scrap-metal to Scrap-Metal Junk Yards in Norwalk and Stamford.
   In December of 2008, a Trooper stopped a Tow Truck on Route 95 in Norwalk that was towing a stolen vehicle. The two suspects were arrested and the Tow-Truck was seized. Auto Theft Detectives obtained search and seizure warrants to the seizure of documents and paperwork for multiple stolen vehicles from the tow-truck. Three (3) suspects were identified by investigators.
   Over the next several months, Detectives conducted a lengthy investigation and examined documents seized. Detectives identified twenty stolen vehicles from the paperwork to identify specific vehicles that had been scrapped at Junk Yard. Arrest warrant applications were prepared and submitted to Superior Court through the Chief States Attorney’s Office for the arrest of the three accused in this case.
   The three accused were taken into custody and were processed at Troop G Bridgeport, where they are being held on bond to appear in GA# 2.  All three were charged with crimes as listed below for larceny, forgery and conspiracy for the possession and sale of the stolen vehicles as Scrap-Metal and forging documents presented to the junk Yards for the sales.
   All of the 20 stolen vehicles that were identified by detectives were crushed as scrap metal. The total value of the 20 known stolen vehicles is approximately $100,000.00.

      ARRESTED:   Luis ORTIZ  DOB 01/29/1985   

       1422 Seaview Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

CHARGES: Larceny 2nd (53a-123)(1 Count), Larceny 3rd (53a-124)(12 Cts)

Conspiracy to Commit Larceny (13 Counts), Forgery 2nd (53a-139) and

Conspiracy to Commit Forgery (10 counts)

Court:  GA#2, Bridgeport Date:  02/26/2010, Bond:  $100,000

Arrested at his residence on 02/25/2010

ARRESTED:  Juan ORTIZ   DOB 01/27/1983  

       100 Deacon Street, Bridgeport, CT

CHARGES: Larceny 2nd (53a-123)(1 Count), Larceny 3rd (53a-124)(12 Cts)

Conspiracy to Commit Larceny (13 Counts),

Forgery 2nd (53a-139) and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery (10 counts)

Court: GA#2, Bridgeport Date: 03/01/2010, Bond: $50,000

Arrested at his residence on 02/26/2010.

      ARRESTED:  Anderson “Andy” VELASQUEZ               DOB 10/25/1985,    

       508 Harral Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

CHARGES: Larceny 2nd (53a-123)(1 Count), Larceny 3rd (53a-124)(14 Cts),

Conspiracy to Commit Larceny (13 Counts), Forgery 2nd (53a-139) and

Conspiracy to Commit Forgery (12 counts)

Court:  GA#2, Bridgeport Date:  03/01/2010, Bond:  $100,000

Arrested at his residence on 02/26/2010.

NO additional arrests are anticipated  in this case.

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Lt. J. Paul Vance