Auto-theft ring and 'chop shop' out of commission

MURRAY — Officers from the Utah State Tax Commission's Motor Vehicle Enforcement division broke up an auto-theft ring and a "chop shop" Friday, arresting four people and recovering several stolen cars and auto parts.

"The back yard is filled with transmissions, hoods, doors and other parts," said investigator Kent Jorgensen. "They were selling the parts off with the chop shop and counterfeiting temporary permits."

Police raided the home near 1200 East and 6600 South in Murray, discovering a computer being used to counterfeit temporary vehicle permits. Five counterfeit permits were recovered. Investigators said even the tiny hologram on the state-issued temporary license plates had been forged, with chewing gum foil being used as a substitute.

"The reason we went to a hologram is we thought it would be more difficult to counterfeit," Jorgensen said. A temporary permit issued for a 1993 Geo Storm was on the back of a '70s-model Jeep Cherokee. When officers popped the hood of the Jeep, they found a Chevy block engine.

Parked in the driveway in front of the Jeep was a 1988 Toyota Camry that had been reported stolen Friday morning. Already, it had the license plate of a stolen Geo Metro, said Capt. Kip Ingersoll.

Three men and a woman were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday, officers said. Three stolen cars were recovered. Murray police had raided the same home two weeks earlier and made a narcotics bust. Small quantities of marijuana were found inside the home Friday, Jorgensen said.