Officers from the Los Angeles Port Police Criminal Investigation Section, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Police Department Commercial Crimes Unit, have arrested a suspect linked to multiple incidents of stolen chassis throughout the Port of Los Angeles.
The arrest was made as part of an ongoing investigation that led authorities to a facility in Gardena, California, where they also recovered 24 chassis believed to be stolen.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, uncovered a scheme in which criminals allegedly entered container terminals and took chassis designated for commercial truckers to transport cargo.
These stolen chassis were then modified, rebranded, and sold as new. Authorities estimate that the illicit profits generated by these criminal activities amount to millions of dollars.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Port Police is a specialized law enforcement agency operating around the clock to safeguard the Port of Los Angeles from threats by land, sea, air, and cyberspace. The force, consisting of over 300 sworn officers and civilian personnel, oversees a jurisdiction covering 7,500 acres along 43 miles of waterfront.
“The Port of Los Angeles is the busiest port in the United States so stopping this theft was important for everyone involved. Our investigation into these activities continues to evolve, but we hope this arrest sends a message to other criminals targeting the Port complex,” explained Rosario Ferrara, the Los Angeles Port Police Lieutenant.
