$500,000 in Stolen Goods Recovered; Seven Arrested

A tip from a neighbor led police to a house in South-Central Los Angeles Sunday where they recovered nearly $500,000 in stolen merchandise and arrested seven suspects who were unloading hundreds of stereos from a stolen tractor-trailer when officers arrived.

Shortly after 8 a.m., police raided the house and a makeshift warehouse in the rear, where they found about 500 stereos and car parts from numerous luxury automobiles, including Cadillacs, Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes. Investigators believe the car parts--bumpers, engines, headlights, seats, doors and wheels--came from vehicles stolen and stripped at the warehouse in the last two years.

Detective Vinson Scott said the house in the 500 block of West 58th Street apparently served as both a clearing house for stolen goods, such as the cache of stereos recovered Sunday, and a so-called “chop shop,” where stolen vehicles are stripped for parts.

The tractor-trailer apparently had been stolen from a Compton trucking company some time after the firm closed Friday, Officer Jack Struble said.

The stereos were picked up at an unknown location and trucked to the 58th Street residence, where neighbors told police the unloading of merchandise began about 3 a.m. One of them called police to complain about the noise.

“They were almost finished when we pulled up,” Struble said. “Our guess is they’ve been operating here for almost two years. Neighbors told us they’ve seen a lot of cars go in and very few come out.”

Some of the suspects tried to flee when officers moved in, but they all were apprehended, including three hiding on the roof of the house, Struble said.

All seven suspects were booked on suspicion of grand theft of the stereo equipment only. Investigators said charges may be sought later against the seven in connection with the auto parts. Those booked into Parker Center Jail were Lester Leonard, Bobby Ferrell, Robert King, Julius Gray, Antone Williams, Lonnie Johnson and Terry Williams, all of Los Angeles.