LaPorte County Authorities Investigating Possible Chop Shop

 
 

A recent vehicle theft in Hammond results in the discovery of a possible automotive chop shop in Michigan City.

Federal, state and LaPorte County authorities served a search warrant at a property in the 7900 block of West Country Road 350 North yesterday and arrested the owner, 48-year-old Thomas Lambert, on a felony theft warrant. It was issued after sheriff’s deputies reportedly found parts from a stolen vehicle on the property during a Nov. 23rd investigation.Yesterday investigators spent several hours on the property, where they reportedly found dozens of vehicles and parts of vehicles, engines, transmissions and watercraft. They will be checking the items against a national database to determine whether they are stolen. LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department officials say the case remains open, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call LaPorte County Sheriff’s Captain Pat Cicero at 219-326-7700 extension 2404.