Rocky River police shut down suspected classic car chop shop and theft ring

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Mark Condrich of Fairview Park defined how his 1966 Chevrolet Impala had been a giant a part of the household for a few years, so when it turned up stolen from a Rocky River storage facility, it left him questioning if he would ever see his traditional automotive once more.

Condrich reported the lacking muscle automotive to the Rocky River Police on Nov. 26, after it was taken from its storage parking spot at Middle Ridge and Linden Highway.

“It is a 1966 convertible, 396, Tremendous Sport, it’s form of household factor, all people’s gotten enjoyment out it,” Condrich mentioned. “We’ve had it nearly 24 years, when my son was a child he was in a automotive seat within the again seat, and he’s been in it ever since and he took it to the promenade.”

Rocky River police confirmed Information 5 surveillance video of the Impala and a 1970 Pontiac GTO being pushed out of the storage facility by thieves. Condrich mentioned he could not consider the automotive was gone.

David Deger

“And I drove to the parking spot and there was no automotive there, I needed to drive again and have a look at it once more, and boy was it a kick within the intestine,” Condrich mentioned. “However I lucked out by getting Detective Asbury assigned to my case.”

Det. Mike Asbury and investigators with the Cleveland Police and the Westshore Enforcement Bureau shortly went to work and, with the assistance of a superb tip, discovered the stolen Impala and GTO on Dec. 14 behind a sequence of properties on West 31 Avenue in Cleveland.

Asbury instructed Information 5 that the GTO was sadly present in a number of items together with a number of different automobiles on the property, however the Condrich Impala was untouched, recovered and given again to the household.

“Basically, it was a full out, absolutely useful chop store, one of many garages was altered to have a excessive roof within it to permit for what gave the impression to be engine hoists and issues of that nature,” Asbury mentioned. “I feel it was cool to provide him his automotive again, I really feel unhealthy for the proprietor of the Pontiac, we had been a couple of days too late, however we acquired one in all them again and I used to be glad we may get it again to him and his household.”

Ashbury mentioned the restoration may clear up different Northeast Ohio automotive theft instances.

David Deger

“We’re hoping that possibly we will examine half numbers, serial numbers, issues like that, a number of autos on the property didn’t have car identification numbers,” Asbury mentioned. “The components, they will promote it on eBay, Craigslist, Fb Market.”

Rocky River Police Chief George Lichman instructed Information 5 an arrest warrant has been issued for the lead suspect within the case, who has but to show himself in to authorities. Lichman mentioned different suspects can also be charged within the case, with these instances despatched to a Cuyahoga County grand jury.

David Deger

In the meantime, Condrich instructed Information 5 nice police work is sending a powerful message to would-be automotive thieves.

“My factor is don’t come to Rocky River to steal your automobiles anymore, as a result of these guys know what they’re doing right here,” Condrich mentioned. “It’s a disgrace that there are individuals on the market that may do that and disrespect different individuals’s property and cut-up a traditional automotive.”

Information 5 is dedicated in following by on this creating story.