Grapevine Police Bust Major North Texas Car Theft Ring
In a significant breakthrough, Grapevine police have dismantled one of the largest car theft rings in North Texas. The operation, which spanned over a year, culminated in the arrest of seven individuals believed to be responsible for stealing over 200 luxury vehicles across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
The suspects, identified as Henry Actwood Jr., Dylan Correa, Gavin Correa, Cristian Morel, Jeremiah Morel, Kevin Oates Jr., and Jose Perez, were charged with engaging in organized crime.
The investigation revealed that the group targeted high-end vehicles, including Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Challengers, and Jeep Cherokees. While these are the most well-known models, it is speculated that the Chevy SS and CTS-V were also on their list. They ended up reselling the stolen vehicles locally, in other states, and even across the border in Mexico.
The police utilized surveillance video, cell phone records, and advanced tracking technology to trace the suspects. The investigation ramped up following a series of thefts at Grapevine Mills Mall,
resulting in multiple SWAT raids in Garland and Dallas. During these raids, authorities recovered stolen vehicles, GPS trackers, and high-tech devices used to reprogram key fobs. This highlights the ongoing issue of Chevy SS thefts and underscores our recommendation for owners to install locks on their OBD2 ports.
Grapevine Police Officer Amanda McNew highlighted the group’s increasing violence, including armed robberies and evading arrest. The arrests have already had a noticeable impact, with Grapevine reporting zero auto thefts in the month following the bust.
According to a CBS News report on July 31st, the suspects were involved in a multi-million dollar international operation, with stolen vehicles being resold to unassuming buyers and even shipped to Mexico. The total confirmed loss linked to the ring is over $9.3 million. Authorities expect the case to go to the federal level due to the scale and complexity of the operation.
Additionally, a related case on the Chevy SS Forums discussed a Chevy SS stolen in Garland, TX. The vehicle was recovered after being professionally re-VINed, with all visible VIN plates and stickers replaced. The car was eventually traced back to its original owner through a VIN mismatch discovered by a diligent technician.
According to CBS Texas it is believed all suspect are out on bond, facing first-degree felonies of engaging and organized criminal activity with federal charges excepted to be filed.
The theft ring is believed to have been operating for approximately three years, with the suspects becoming increasingly bold and sophisticated in their methods over time.
This operation underscores the importance of coordinated efforts among multiple North Texas agencies to combat organized crime and protect the community from such sophisticated theft rings.
