Authorities say a Harris County family turned an auto shop in a theft operation, stealing trucks and selling off parts. Six men now face charges.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Several members of the same family are facing charges in a Harris County vehicle theft investigation centered around an auto body shop where authorities say stolen trucks were dismantled and sold for parts.
Gilberto Angulo, believed to be the shop’s owner, appeared before a magistrate judge Thursday along with five other men — four of whom share his last name. All six are accused of participating in what prosecutors described as an organized crime ring.
“The co-defendants are his brothers, his nephews, and his son,” a defense attorney said in court.
“They [investigators] allege that motor vehicles were stolen, dismantled, and the parts sold off,” a magistrate judge added. “At least 12 cars valued at over $120,000 had been stolen just in a couple weeks of investigation.”
According to Pasadena police, the department’s Auto Theft Division identified the shop during an investigation into a string of truck thefts in the city.
“It was determined that the suspects were stealing vehicles and dismantling them to both sell parts and install parts in vehicles at the garage,” Pasadena PD said in a statement. “A large quantity of intact vehicles and vehicle parts were recovered at the scene.”
According to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, investigators believe some of the allegedly stolen vehicles were temporarily left at a nearby school before being moved to the shop.
Criminal defense attorney and retired Houston police officer Thom Nixon said that tactic, known as “cooling off,” gives thieves time to see if the owner or police are searching for the vehicle.
“They’ll see if you’re out looking for it, or if police show up,” Nixon said.
While investigators didn’t use GPS to locate the vehicles, Nixon said that “cooling off” window could offer victims a chance to recover their cars if they’ve equipped them with tracking devices.
“Track your own vehicle, you can put an Apple AirTag in your vehicle with alert statuses on it that allow your vehicle to tell you it’s moving and you’re not in it,” he said.
Nixon said thieves often target trucks and SUVs for valuable components like catalytic converters and onboard computers.
As of Thursday, court records show Gilberto Angulo and co-defendant Edgar Charles had posted bond. Both had been held on two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, with bond set at $100,000 per charge. The remaining four defendants are still in custody.