ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (KMOX) - St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar says they're interested in the chop shops in north St. Louis County that would give car thieves a "wish list" of the kind of cars they wanted.
Investigators are finding out more about the damage done by a car theft ring, after the arrest last week of the alleged kingpin. Lohmar says the suspect —Nicholas Tate — ran a gang that went after specific makes and models for sale to chop shops in north St. Louis County.
"A conservative estimate is that his group was responsible for more than 100 car break-ins and at least a dozen car thefts that we know of," Lohmar says. "And the number is probably much bigger than that."
Lohmar says the car break-ins netted the gang a bunch of stolen guns, which then would end up on the street in other crimes.
The 21-year old Tate is now back in state custody, after violating his parole. The arrest was the result of the efforts of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force.
Related
"He was a major kingpin in a organized gang that's out of north St. Louis who was tormenting not just the St. Louis, but the St. Charles County neighborhoods for the last several years," Lohmar says.
Lohmar says the ring would bring stolen cars to chop shops in north St. Louis County, where mechanics would break down a car into resalable parts in as little as an hour. He also says car thefts are down sharply, after the Regional Auto Theft Task Force began its crackdown a year ago.
Related
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram