Major Oakland Stolen Car Chop Shop Busted
OAKLAND (CBS SF) – A prolific Oakland stolen car operation has been busted, the alleged auto theft mastermind arrested and more than 300 stolen Camaros and other vehicles linked to the operation have been recovered, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force said that Albert Murry, a 35-year-old Oakland man, was arrested during a traffic stop.
Murry was being held on one count of operating a chop shop, four counts of possession of stolen property and one count of a felon in possession of a loaded, large capacity magazine.
Oakland police officers took Murry into custody in August during an East Oakland traffic stop. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the vehicle Murry was driving contained several stolen parts including the engine.
A 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup parked in front of Murry's residence was inspected and was found to contain a stolen engine and transmission.
Investigators then seized two more vehicles which contained stolen engines and transmissions -- a 2005 Pontiac GTO registered to Murry's wife and a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am which, which according to DMV Documents, Murry sold to a 17-year-old San Leandro resident for $5,500.
In September, a search warrant was served on Murry's Reposo Drive residence. The task force located two more salvaged vehicles and tools and equipment used to facilitate vehicle theft.
Investigators have determined that beginning in 2013, Murry was involved in a large scale auto theft operation. He was allegedly an active participant in the stealing, stripping and dismantling of GM vehicles.
Investigators said Murry also used his girlfriend's residence on the 10000 block of Reposo Drive, in East Oakland as an illegal chop shop. Murry and his associates allegedly stole popular GM vehicles such as Camaros, Silverado Pickups, Trailblazers and Trans Ams.
After stripping the vehicles of their parts, Murry and his associates would dump the stripped shells of vehicles around his East Oakland neighborhood.
The task force estimates that approximately 300 stolen Camaros have been recovered, most stripped of their major components and found throughout Oakland since 2013.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have purchased a vehicle, or vehicle parts from Murry, or has additional information regarding Murry's alleged activities and the whereabouts of possible stolen vehicles and components, please call or text information to: (510) 516-2886.