172 STOLEN CARS RECOVERED IN EAST COUNTY UNDERCOVER STING, 50 PEOPLE CHARGED

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Undercover officers with the San Diego Regional Auto Theft Task Force infiltrated organized auto theft rings locally, says CHP Captain Charles Leonard. Through a sting operation at a storefront in East County, suspects were caught on video selling stolen vehicles, guns, ammunition and narcotic drugs to undercover detectives.

On August 31, the task force announced that Operation Sunrise has resulted in recovery of stolen vehicles worth an estimated $3.3 million.  Fifty suspects have been indicted on crimes including auto theft, identity theft, illegal firearms possession and selling drugs.  Officers also seized  narcotics and 14 firearms, including several untraceable and illegal ghost guns.

La Mesa Police Chief Ray Sweeney, who serves as the task force's Executive Chair, said cracking down on auto thefts is important because stolen cars are often used to commit other crimes, 10 News reports.

"ATM thefts. Most of all of those are stolen vehicles. Robberies. Street robberies, rolling up on somebody either with a gun by force or fear taking their property usually are done with stolen vehicles," he said.

All of the stolen vehicles have returned to their owners.

The San Diego District Attorney’s office recommends that vehicle owners utilize an alarm and/or a GPS tracking device to aid in recovery if your vehicle is stolen. 

The San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force, (RATT) was formed in 1992 RATT is comprised of Police Officers, Sheriff's Deputies, California Highway Patrol Investigators, Probation Officers, Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Insurance, National Insurance Crime Bureau, District Attorney Investigators, Deputy District Attorneys and Assistant United States Attorneys.