10 stolen vehicles found on property in Merced, officials say
KFSN
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) A man is accused of auto theft after 10 stolen vehicles were found on his property off Highway 59 and Cone Avenue in Merced.
Officials with the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force were following up on reports of a stolen Caterpillar.
They conducted an inspection of the recycling business owned by 36-year-old Carl Means and found the excavator in use.
At the end of their search, they were able to confirm a total of 10 stolen vehicles, trailers and heavy machinery.
Most of the stolen property was found in bad shape or destroyed.
Vehicles stolen from Turlock, other cities found at Merced chop shop The Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force followed up on tips regarding a stolen 2017 Caterpillar Excavator out of Tuolumne County which led to an automotive recycling business in Merced being used as an illegal chop shop (Photo contributed).
The search for a stolen excavator led to a scrap yard in Merced where Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force investigators found 10 stolen vehicles from Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Tuolumne and San Joaquin counties and arrested one man on various criminal charges including running a chop shop.
StanCATT investigators were conducting follow up on tips regarding a 2017 Caterpillar Excavator with brush attachment that was stolen out of Tuolumne County. The tips led the investigators to an automotive recycling business in the 300 block of State Route 59 in Merced. On Monday, StanCATT Investigators conducted a business inspection pursuant