SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The rate of auto theft in the city of Tijuana remains high with an average of 18 vehicles stolen every day, according to Rubén Alfredo Maximiliano Ramos, prosecutor with the Baja Attorney General’s Office.
He said anything made by Hyundai, Toyota, Honda and Nissan Versa models are cars preferred by thieves.
“We are doing sting operations to fight this type of crime in areas where many of the cars are being taken,” said Ramos. “Shopping centers where parking is free are the biggest problem spots.”
According to Ramos, during the first five months of the year there were 2,761 stolen vehicles reported in Tijuana. Last year, there were 2,724 during the same timeframe.
“There’s no one gang or criminal organization doing this, most car thieves operate by themselves,” said Ramos. “What they do is try to unload or sell the cars immediately, many times these are just addicts who are trying to get some quick money, or sometimes they use the stolen cars to commit other crimes.”
Two years ago, Ricardo Iván Carpio, the attorney general at the time, said an investigation had led them to 14 junkyards and recycling centers, where the stolen cars were being purchased and dismantled.
And he said most of the stolen vehicles were 1995-2005 models.
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