Police: 5 arrested in multistate car theft ring

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Police: 5 arrested in multistate car theft ring

By NBCAugusta Staff

Story Published: Jul 17, 2008 at 12:39 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2008 at 1:17 PM EST

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Five people have been arrested in South
Carolina in connection with what police say is a sophisticated car
theft ring that stole at least 23 vehicles three states.

One of those arrested was a pastor who says he was a victim of
the ring, not a member of it.

The Charleston Post and Courier reported Thursday that vehicles
worth about $600,000 were stolen from dealerships throughout Georgia, including Augusta, and both North and South Carolina.

Police said the thieves caused a distraction and switched fake
keys for the real keys. The thieves would return later, drive away
in the cars and swap out valid registrations and tags from similar
vehicles at salvage junkyards.

The stolen vehicles were later sold along roadsides for cash.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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