1 arrested, 1 sought in theft of 124 wheels off vehicles at Slidell dealership

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A Texas man has been arrested and a second suspect is being sought in the April theft of 124 tires and rims off of vehicles at a Slidell Chevrolet dealership, authorities announced Wednesday (May 29).

Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said the pair have been linked to similar thefts along the Interstate 10 corridor and areas in Texas, describing them as members of a professional theft ring responsible for millions of dollars in tire thefts.

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Thieves struck before dawn on Saturday, April 27, at Matt Bowers Chevrolet, disabling a surveillance camera and manipulating a lighting system so they could work in darkened conditions, authorities have said.

Later that morning, a dealership manager discovered the wheels missing from 31 vehicles, including Chevy Tahoes, Malibus, trucks and smaller SUVs, police said.

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Surveillance videos from multiple locations throughout the Gulf South and Texas helped in identifying the suspects, according to police.

“We are in contact with multiple law enforcement agencies and sharing information to ensure these individuals are brought to justice and held responsible for every single theft they have committed,” Fandal said.

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