February 28, 2024 - Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials report that on February 21, 2024, three Male Hispanic suspects were arrested during an ongoing investigation involving online vehicle rentals sold via Facebook Marketplace to unsuspecting victims for cash. The suspects manufactured cloned keys and fictitious DMV paperwork for each rental vehicle, which they would provide to buyers at the time of purchase. Once the transaction was completed, the suspects would follow the victims, steal the vehicle, and return it to the rental host. These incidents took place in multiple counties throughout Southern California.

The Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention (TRAP) is looking for additional victims who may have purchased a vehicle from the suspects. If you have any information, please contact the Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention TRAP at (800) 299-TRAP (8727).

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website https://lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department