CLARENDON, Jamaica -A man the Clarendon police believe to be part of a major car stealing ring in the parish was arrested last week when he turned up to visit two of his jailed cronies at the Lionel Town Police Station in a stolen motor car.

The man, whose identity is being withheld as he has not yet been formally charged, turned up at the police station during visiting hours on Sunday, October 16. He was driving a 2015 Toyota Axio motor car.

Just two days prior, two men were busted at the May Pen Police Station for trying to sell another stolen Toyota Axio motor car. Believing the coincidence to be too great, the suspicion of the police on duty was immediately aroused. Checks were made and it was discovered that the motor vehicle was registered to one of the jailed men.

The police probed further, and called in the JCF’s serial number restoration expert. It was then discovered that the vehicle’s chassis number and engine number had been tampered with and that the vehicle had been stolen in another parish.

He was subsequently arrested and placed in custody.

His cronies, 38-year-old Kemar Meeks and 30-year-old Tyrone Smith, both of Evans Street in May Pen, Clarendon, have since been charged with fraudulent use of registration plate, uttering forged documents and forgery. They are awaiting a date to answer to their charges in the May Pen Parish Court.

It is alleged that after advertising a stolen motor car for sale on social media, they met the prospective buyer at the May Pen Police Station on Friday, October 14 to conduct the sale. However, the prospective buyer sought the assistance of the police to verify the Corporate Communications Unit vehicle documents, and it was then discovered that the Toyota Axio motor car bore a registration plate that was not assigned to it, and it had been reported stolen in the Half -Way -Tree area.

The police are using these latest incidents to remind individuals of the importance of being vigilant when purchasing motor vehicles. The police are able to assist with the verification process, and people are encouraged to contact their local police for assistance.