Two Arrested After Series of Honda Thefts Leads Richmond Police to Petersburg Chop Shop

Two people have been arrested in connection with the theft of 25 Hondas in Richmond over the past few weeks, the Richmond Police Department said Monday. Investigators also uncovered what they describe as a "chop shop" in neighboring Petersburg.

Police said detectives suspected a coordinated theft operation that used electronic devices to clone key fobs for certain Honda models. Using Flock license plate readers, investigators traced the stolen vehicles to the Petersburg area and worked with Petersburg Police on the case.

One of the recently stolen Hondas had an electronic tracking device inside. That gave detectives more precise location information, according to Richmond police, and allowed them to spot several stolen Hondas in Petersburg and take two males into custody.

The two arrested are Jhon Alexander Jabier, 22, who has no known address, and Luiyi Munoz-Inoa, 33, of Hazel Township, Pa. Both were charged with grand larceny-auto and conspiracy to commit larceny.

On Friday, police located a chop shop on Deerfield Drive in Petersburg, where they found dozens of Honda parts. Some vehicles had been cut in half. Lt. Brian Rogers said officers found tools suited to chopping vehicles apart. "We found one of our more recent Honda CRVs on the property that had been cut in half and dismantled," he said. A box truck parked outside was full of what Rogers called "the carcass of the vehicle."

Detectives are still sorting through the parts and tracing serial numbers. Rogers said investigators believe the suspects broke part of a door handle to get into the cars and then stole them with some kind of technology device. He believes Hondas were targeted because their parts are interchangeable with some other models, which gives them a higher value. Several stolen vehicles from New York state were also found in Petersburg.

Police are also examining a possible connection to an operation outside the Richmond area. Richmond police noted that the Philadelphia Police Department announced the discovery of a large chop shop operation involving Honda vehicles within the past month. Such operations separate vehicle components for shipment overseas or for other uses, according to RPD.

Five of the Hondas stolen in Richmond have been returned to their owners. Components from five other Richmond vehicles were found at the Petersburg location during the search.

Police continue to recommend steering wheel locks. "I think the risk of your Honda being stolen still remains," Rogers said. "If it's not this group of individuals, it could be just as easy another group of individuals." Police said the investigation is ongoing.