CHP and Sheriff’s representatives are expected at an August 27 community meeting where residents can raise vehicle-related and other public-safety concerns
By John Todd | Rio Linda Online
A classic Chevrolet Chevelle stolen more than three decades ago has finally been returned to its original owner after a routine California Highway Patrol inspection uncovered altered vehicle identification numbers.
The discovery was made when the car’s recent purchaser brought the out-of-state vehicle to the CHP’s Auburn Area office for a VIN verification. During the inspection, CHP personnel noticed irregularities and determined that identification numbers on the vehicle had been altered.
A follow-up investigation traced the Chevelle to a theft report filed with the San Mateo Police Department 33 years earlier.
Investigators located the original owner and reunited that person with the long-missing car.
The recent purchaser cooperated fully and is not suspected of participating in either the original theft or the alteration of the identification numbers. Investigators have not identified a suspect or determined when the changes were made.
The case happened outside Rio Linda, but it carries a worthwhile warning for local residents. Classic cars, pickup trucks, trailers, motorcycles and project vehicles are frequently sold through private listings, social media and word of mouth. A convincing title or registration document does not necessarily guarantee that the identification numbers—or the vehicle itself—are legitimate.
The CHP checks vehicle and component identification numbers during certain inspections to determine whether they have been removed, falsified, altered or tampered with. Officers may also examine bills of sale, parts invoices and other supporting documents for indications that a vehicle or its components were stolen.
Before buying a used or classic vehicle, purchasers should:
- Compare the VIN shown on the title with every identification number on the vehicle.
- Look for damaged rivets, mismatched plates, grinding, fresh paint or other evidence that a VIN plate may have been disturbed.
- Make sure the seller’s identification agrees with the name on the title.
- Keep copies of the advertisement, messages, bill of sale and payment records.
- Be cautious when a seller demands cash, refuses an inspection or offers a vehicle well below its expected value.
- Check the VIN before exchanging money.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau provides a free VINCheck service that searches participating insurers’ theft and salvage records. The organization cautions that its database is not a complete vehicle-history report and should not be a buyer’s only safeguard.
CHP, Sheriff Expected at August 27 Rio Linda Meeting
Residents with questions about vehicle theft, suspicious VINs, abandoned vehicles, unsafe driving or other traffic-related problems may have an opportunity to speak directly with CHP representatives later this month.
Sacramento County District 4 Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office North Division will hold a joint community meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 27, at the Rio Linda Youth Center, 627 L Street in Rio Linda.
Although the meeting is being promoted by Rodriguez and the Sheriff’s Office, CHP representatives are almost always present at these Rio Linda community meetings. Other county and public-safety agencies, including Code Enforcement and park rangers, have also participated in past meetings.
That broader agency presence is important because responsibility for local problems is often divided. The Sheriff’s Office generally handles theft reports, suspicious activity and criminal investigations, while the CHP is responsible for traffic enforcement on Rio Linda’s unincorporated roads. Code Enforcement and other county departments address many property, nuisance and neighborhood complaints.
The August 27 gathering will allow residents to ask questions, report recurring problems and find out which agency has the authority to act. Those with an ongoing concern should consider bringing specific dates, locations, photographs, license-plate information, case numbers or other documentation.
Because Rio Linda and Elverta are unincorporated communities, meetings like this provide residents with one of their most direct opportunities to speak with county leadership and the law-enforcement personnel serving the area.
The recovered Chevelle is an unusual success story, but it also demonstrates how vehicle crimes can remain unresolved for decades. For local residents concerned about stolen vehicles, illegal street activity or neighborhood safety, the August 27 meeting is an opportunity to bring those concerns directly to the agencies responsible for addressing them.
Editor’s note: The material supplied by CHP identifies the vehicle as a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle in its headline but describes it as a 1971 model in the body of the release. Rio Linda Online has referred to it simply as a classic Chevrolet Chevelle pending clarification.
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