Stolen car ring: Portland man accused of swiping legally parked cars off ... - The Oregonian
A 54-year-old man has been indicted on theft and stolen vehicle charges, accused of towing legally parked vehicles off Portland streets and then selling them to a North Portland auto-crushing business for cash. The indictment also marks the latest in an ongoing, months-long investigation into a stolen car ring that netted a Portland city employee and focused on two businesses along North Columbia Boulevard. The sales occurred without any vehicle ownership documents, as required under state motor vehicle regulations. Michael Anthony Reed has been charged with two counts each of unauthorized use of a vehicle, first-degree theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. "Individuals like Reed were able to bring in vehicles to West Coast Car Crushing without proper paperwork because West Coast wasn't following the regulations put in place by the DMV,'' said Multnomah County prosecutor Kevin Demer. Last fall, Abby Lyons of Yamhill County had loaned her pickup to her daughter, then a University of Portland student. Lyons reported the Jeep stolen to Portland police. The officer who took the call suggested that trucks of her Jeep's vintage – a 1987 Comanche with two-wheel drive and a long bed, could be a target because they hold more metal, which can be lucrative for thieves. Source: www.oregonlive.com
