NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Officials on Thursday announced a massive 971-count indictment against 16 men accused of operating a sophisticated auto theft ring that targeted 252 vehicle owners across the city, primarily in the Bronx, between August 2024 and June 2025.
The investigation was launched after more than 200 reports were filed each month during the summer of 2024, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who said the crimes were far from accidental. "It was systematic. It was methodical and calculated," she said.
The crew earned the nickname "pit crew" due to the precision and efficiency of their thefts, which were often captured on surveillance video. Typically, a three-person team would arrive in a stolen vehicle, lift a target car with a jack, and use power tools to strip all four tires and rims in a matter of minutes.
"The signature M.O. of these defendants was about speed and stealth. They allegedly worked fast like a race car pit crew in the dead of night," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said.
The crew is accused of stealing property valued at $1.2 million on the black market, including tires, rims, and catalytic converters. The investigation also led to the discovery of $116,000 in cash at the home of one of the black-market buyers.
Nine of the defendants were arraigned this week on charges ranging from grand larceny to auto stripping. They are all due back in court in September.
