12 arrested in $2.6M high end car theft ring

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Twelve individuals are facing multiple charges after their involvement with an alleged high end car theft ring.

On Thursday, Dec. 12, Massachusetts State Police, along with Brockton Police and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office’s Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, searched 11 residences and a garage across Brockton, Fall River, and North Easton.

During the takedown, investigators seized firearms, large-capacity magazines, ammunition, key fobs, key programming devices, and clothing.

According to officials, “Operation Hellcat” was a year-long investigation involving 38 local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Throughout the course of the investigation, individuals were identified as alleged participants in high end car thefts totaling more than $2.6 million.

Through the collective investigation, The Office of the Attorney General said 63 stolen vehicles can be attributed to the theft organization.

The individuals worked in groups of two to ten to coordinate thefts at dealerships throughout the Commonwealth and surrounding states, according to officials.

The group allegedly used Autel programming devices that allow users to take a blank key fob and create a fully functioning key for the vehicle.

Officials believe that after breaking into the vehicles, the suspects connected the Autel device into the vehicle, allowing them to create a new key fob within minutes.

Investigators said several suspects had allegedly  ordered firearm parts including selector switches, which are conversion devices that are designed for the sole purpose of converting semi-automatic Glock style firearms into fully automatic machine guns, online.

11 individuals from Brockton were arrested and charged, while one individual was arrested and charged from North Easton.