Anza Chop Shop Raided

More than $360,000 worth of stolen cars and parts were uncovered at an alleged chop shop in Anza.

Shayne Stewart Smith, 24, was arrested on Aug. 31 on charges of altering vehicle numbers, stealing property, running a chop shop, stealing with prior offenses and driving without a license, according to court records.

He was expected in court next week, the records state.

Sheriff's investigators were tipped off by a man who said he bought a stolen trailer from the suspect.

The man saw the trailer on Craig's List, a website that publishes classified ads.

Smith posted the ad, and they worked out a time for the informant to pick up, the affidavit states. The man then went to the suspect's property in the 54400 block of Wellman Road and bought the trailer.

He later brought it to the San Gorgonio Pass CHP office to have the identification number inspected. An officer found the number was altered.

"The manufacture label had been scratched -- completely destroyed -- and painted over with black paint," wrote sheriff's investigator J. Dean Corey in an affidavit supporting a search warrant.

Corey identified the trailer through "confidential means," and found it reported stolen from a property in the 38300 block on Innovation Court in Murrieta.

Further investigation revealed Smith was already under investigation for his possible connection with a larger auto theft ring.

"I learned Shayne Smith had ties to a group that was suspected of stealing Ford trucks and was under investigation by multiple vehicle theft task forces," the investigator wrote.

Corey later set up surveillance at the suspect's property and saw him driving a truck reported stolen from Wildomar.

He then drove the truck to meet with Ricky Alan Smith, a parolee who was also under investigation for involvement in an auto theft ring, Corey wrote.

Ricky Smith was also in a truck, and the suspects swapped vehicles at a park-and-ride. When Corey saw Ricky Smith -- the more notorious of the two suspects -- he called for reinforcements and CHP officers swarmed him.

"Marked CHP units, air units, K-9 units and additional unmarked units were called to assist," Corey wrote. "Ricky Smith fled, but was apprehended after a pursuit."

Shayne Smith got away after in the commotion. The next day, the investigator noticed Shayne Smith posted three more Craig's List ads that seemed to be for parts coming from the truck he got in the trade at the park-and-ride.

Ricky Smith was released a few days after his arrest, and the status of his case was unavailable today.