Watsonville Chop Shop: Man Arrested; Stolen Cars Found, CHP Says

Watsonville CA

23 November, 2020

4:48 PM

Description

WATSONVILLE, CA — A Watsonville man was arrested on suspicion of operating a chop shop Monday after disassembled cars and two stolen Hondas were found at his home, according to the California Highway Patrol. Gustavo Chavez, 28, was arrested after officials conducted a probation search at his Grant Street home Monday morning. He is facing five felony charges related to car theft, operating a chop shop, altering a vehicle ID number and violating felony parole, according to Santa Cruz County jail records. A chop shop is the colloquial term for car shops that disassemble stolen cars and sell their parts. Officials were first tipped off this weekend, when the Watsonville Police Department responded to Chavez's home after noticing what appeared to be a chop shop in progress, CHP said. Watsonville police, CHP and the Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Taskforce conducted the probation search there Monday morning.