LEILA FUJIMORI / LFUJIMORI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Christopher Pope yesterday sorted through items seized at an alleged chop shop in Kapolei to recover music CDs that were stolen with his car.
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'Chop shop' bust yields stolen items
Police raided a suspected Makakilo "chop shop" yesterday and recovered thousands of dollars worth of items, ranging from body armor to driver's licenses, allegedly stolen in auto thefts, car break-ins and burglaries.
"Please be aware of chop shops like this," urged police Capt. Frank Fujii. Police are hoping this case will prompt the public to be more vigilant in reporting stolen cars being abandoned or cars being stripped at all hours.
Neighbors called police to report suspicious activity, which led to the raid by the Auto Theft Detail and the District 8 Crime Reduction Unit at a two-story house at 92-411 Leiole St. in Makakilo, police said.
Authorities arrested and charged Justin P. Minor, 26, with one count of auto theft yesterday afternoon, and police said other related charges were pending.
Minor has been convicted of first-degree criminal property damage; unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle; 18 counts of criminal contempt; and convictions for drunken driving and disorderly conduct.
"For someone to be solely responsible for this amount of property would be pretty difficult," Fujii said, adding it was safe to say Minor probably had associates.
"People are making a living out of this," Fujii said. "We've got to stop this."
Among the stolen items recovered were ceramic body armor, military and firefighter uniforms, car stereos, a birth certificate, checkbooks, driver's licenses, car parts and ammunition.
Police also seized items including Minor's Dodge Intrepid as evidence and guitars, which may have belonged to the suspect but could be forfeited since it was intermingled with stolen items, Fujii said.
Police are also working with the military since military personnel were among the victims like Christopher Pope, whose car was stolen.
Pope sifted through the stolen items last night at the main police station wearing blue latex gloves, looking for his planner and some music CDs, among other things. A police officer pulled out a pouch of CDs, which Pope identified as his.
Police also recovered drug paraphernalia, Fujii said.
Anyone with information on possible car thefts and "chop shop" activities are asked to call police at 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.