Dealer Alert

Good News for Area Dealers: International Car Theft Ring Busted

Washington Area dealers could breathe a sign of relief (albeit probably temporary) to read in The Washington Post last week about three raids in suburban Maryland that were part of a wider effort to break up a major East Coast car-theft ring that allegedly stole more than 1,000 luxury vehicles in the past year and shipped them to West Africa and the Middle East. The cars were taken from dealerships and suburban driveways, carjacked off the street or stolen by other means in the Washington Area, New York and New Jersey, then packed onto container ships docked at New Jersey ports and shipped abroad, authorities said.

–This is the largest auto-theft fencing ring I’ve seen since I’ve been on the force,” Lt. Rick Nuel, a 22-year veteran and chief of the auto unit with the New Jersey State Police, told The Post. –When you’re looking at the amount of cars going out and the amount of contacts they had, it’s huge.”

The investigation led to the arrest of resident Solomon O. Asare, 31, of Upper Marlboro, a native of Ghana who was described as a ringleader. Eight others were also arrested, including Vincent Robinson, who is allegedly linked to the theft of more than 30 brand-new, high-end vehicles from dealerships in Fairfax, Montgomery and Baltimore counties. Robinson allegedly gained access to keys to the cars after he was hired at several local dealerships, including at least one in Fairfax. Police there took Robinson into custody June 1 on charges of auto theft, according to The Post.

The men arrested were detained on a variety of charges linking them to the alleged conspiracy, with tendrils in Prince Georges, Howard, and Montgomery counties and Northern Virginia. Authorities said more arrests are expected in the Washington Area and elsewhere.