BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputies found 12 stolen vehicles, including some large commercial tractors, at a chop shop in the southwest area of the county, officials said.
Deputies responded to a call for a stolen construction truck on Thursday night in the 14000 block of Wheeler Road.
Johnny Garcia, a BCSO spokesperson, said a caller claimed the truck was stolen from their property on Thursday afternoon, and the GPS was pinging to the location of the chop shop.
Garcia said deputies made contact with the property owner and called auto theft investigators to assist.
The owner, who is in his 80s, gave consent to search the property. Deputies found four trucks, three trailers, three tractors, one SUV and a dirt bike on the 20-acre property.
"Some of these vehicles are really heavy," Garcia said.
Garcia said the vehicles were used to create pathways to hide them. They were stored under heavy brush in a remote area, he said.
He said one of the trucks had a high-grade drill, and it appeared as if the crooks were working to sell the drill separately.
Garcia said the stolen property is worth between $118,000 and $200,000.
"We intend to get that property back to its rightful owners," he said.
Garcia said part of the property may have been used as a chop shop for about a year. He said the owner has had problems with other people breaking into his property to stash stolen vehicles.
Garcia said most of the vehicles were still intact. They will be taken in as evidence while the investigation is ongoing.
The owner of the property is not expected to face any charges.
Officials are still working to find the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call 210-335-6000.
Wheeler Road Chop Shop