Police: Two car theft rings in Tri Cities area busted with half million in property recovered

A group of law enforcement agencies has busted up two separate car theft rings in the Tri-Cities area that police said included several wheelmen under the age of 15.

A report from the Kingsport Police Department said 50 motor vehicle thefts and auto burglaries had been reported since July 1st and the majority of crimes took place in cars that had been left unlocked.

The investigation that included the TBI has cleared more than 100 cases and has recovered more than half-a-million dollars in property including 33 stolen vehicles and 5 guns.

A total of eight suspects including one adult face charges of motor vehicle theft, burglary, and vandalism.

The statement also said the operation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Johnson City Police Department, the Mount Carmel Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and other area law enforcement agencies.

(IMAGE: Bristol Broadcasting Co News Archive)