KC police sweep finds dozens of stolen cars

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Law enforcement agencies trying to crack down on a growing number of auto thefts swept through area salvage yards last week, recovering at least 35 stolen vehicles and arresting a few dozen people, mostly independent tow-truck drivers.

Charges had yet to be filed against any of the people arrested, said Kansas City police Detective Tim Mountz.

Much of the effort focused on salvage yards in Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan. But the stolen cars came from all over, police said.

The thieves primarily target cars in vacant lots or disabled cars left along the side of roads and then tow them to salvage yards, where the cars are stripped and their parts sold for cash. Then the drivers or others at the salvage lots haul the cars to crushers and get paid for scrap, Mountz said.

Law enforcement officials hope the sweep raises public awareness and alerts car thieves that authorities are aware of their tactics.

Mountz said other cities had seen steep declines in thefts after targeting salvage and scrap operations.

"This is kind of the beginning stages of the whole thing," he said.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com