TROOPERS ARREST TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOR VEHICLE THEFTS

(Baltimore, MD) – Maryland state troopers have arrested a Baltimore tow truck driver after an investigation during the past week showed he was stealing vehicles abandoned along the road and selling them to an auto parts recycler.

The accused is identified as Charles (nmn) Jennings III, 38, of the 4200-block of Labyrinth Road, Baltimore, Md. He turned himself in at the Golden Ring Barracks yesterday afternoon to be served with charges. He is charged with four counts of auto theft and four counts of theft over $500. He is currently held in the Baltimore County Detention Center on $50,000 bond.

The investigation began on May 5, 2009, when a man contacted Maryland State Police at the Golden Ring Barracks and said he was the lien holder of a 2000 Infinity and was in the process of repossessing the car. He said the lady who had possession of the car left it abandoned on the outer loop of I-695 at I-83 earlier that day due to mechanical problems. When he checked the location, the vehicle was gone. The man activated a GPS device he had on the vehicle and found it at an auto parts recycling yard in the 4700-block of Erdman Avenue in Baltimore.

Troopers responded to the business and learned the vehicle had been towed to the yard earlier that day by the accused and was purchased from him for $325. The accused had filled out the required indemnity form stating he was the owner of the Infinity. Auto recyclers are required to obtain that completed form and keep it on file before a sale can be made. They are also permitted by law to purchase a vehicle for scrap that is eight years old or older and is inoperable without a vehicle title (Transportation Article 15-509).

After requesting assistance from the State Police Auto Theft Unit and the Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT Team), investigators checked the recycling yard for three other vehicles that had recently been reported stolen to the Golden Ring Barracks. All three vehicles had been left along highways after becoming disabled. They included a 1991 Volkswagon, a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, and a 2001 Nissan Altima.

Police found all three vehicles at the recycling yard. They also found indemnity forms showing all three vehicles had been towed to the yard and sold by the accused. All four of the stolen vehicles were among six towed to the yard that same day by the accused. He had been paid $675 for the four vehicles troopers identified as stolen.

Through further investigation at the yard, troopers and task force investigators identified another seven vehicles that had been reported stolen to State Police in March and April. They included a 1995 Ford, 1993 Volvo, 1998 Nissan, 1995 Toyota, 1994 Nissan, 1996 Dodge, and a 1993 Honda. All of those vehicles had been left abandoned around the Baltimore Beltway.

Investigators from the RATT Team have identified other vehicles stolen from Baltimore City and Baltimore County. They are following up on those thefts.

Evidence developed in the investigation indicates the accused was using his tow truck to remove abandoned vehicles from roadsides in the Baltimore Metro area. He was then selling them at the auto recycling yard.

The accused is believed to have sold more than 80 cars at the recycling yard this year. The investigation is continuing. Additional charges are pending.