Update: 2nd Arrest In Car Theft Ring Case
Update: 2nd Arrest In Car Theft Ring Case
On December 30, 2014, WOWT reported on a car theft ring that operated out of a warehouse near 28th and B Streets, off highway 75. Our reporter was standing in front of a building at that location with L&K Metal and Scrap Metal’s logo. In our report, we said that police had discovered numerous stolen vehicles at that location in the process of being stripped and dismantled. WOWT would like to correct that statement. Police records do not indicate that the car theft ring operated at the L&K Metal and Scrap Metal building. Instead, records showcase that the alleged car theft ring operated from an adjacent building that L&K leased to the man arrested in connection with the ring. WOWT would like to clarify that the police have not implicated L&K Metal and Scrap Metal in the car theft ring.
WOWT six News is digging deeper into an elaborate car theft ring involving a West Omaha man and one of his employees. Timothy Egan, 61, operates Egan Business Consulting, and he is the man behind a car theft operation that now has him sitting in jail.
Investigators tell WOWT six News that Egan was buying salvaged vehicles and rebuilding them with parts from stolen vehicles. He would then sell those as upgrades to make money. Not only that, but he was also selling and trading stolen parts to unaware people and businesses.
For example, he would take a Ford F250 and improve it by exchanging out stolen parts from a Ford F350. Just before Christmas police found the stolen parts and stolen cars at several locations. Tuesday, WOWT six News found out Aaron Roberts, who worked for Egan, was hired to help him do this.
Police believe the chop-shop operation took place near 28th and B streets. That’s where they found numerous vehicles being dismantled. Here, they were able to find parts of cars that had vehicle identification numbers matching at least four stolen Ford trucks from Omaha and Council Bluffs.
When police made the discovery there, they were then led to Egan’s two homes. One in Elkhorn, near 204th and Maple, and another near 50th and Grover. Here officers identified parts using VINs that matched seven known stolen vehicles.
After searching Egan’s home, they obtained information that led them to Milt’s Mini Storage, near 144th and West Center. Inwards two storage units, they identified parts from two stolen vehicles.
Add them all up and you will see the guys were interchanging parts from thirteen stolen vehicles.
Egan and Roberts are charged with Fraud and Criminal Conspiracy. Roberts bonded out of jail, but as of Tuesday, Egan remained in jail. Investigators are still attempting to locate more vehicles, parts and information regarding the two fellows.