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LASD - East Los Angeles Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
Saturday July 14th, 2012 :: 11:39 p.m. PDT

Community

Persistent TX Man Finds His Car for Sale on eBay in East LA, 42 years After it was Stolen in PA

(Photos- Click on the hyperlink at the bottom of this message)

A Texas resident told deputies his sports car stolen in Philadelphia in 1970 was now in East Los Angeles and for sale on eBay. His persistence, some luck, and some help from a Los Angeles County Sheriff's detective and a Philadelphia Police detective have reunited the car and its true owner.

In May 2012, Sheriff's Detective Carlos Ortega received information that a stolen car was for sale on eBay and stored at a car dealership in the policing jurisdiction of the East Los Angeles Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Detective Ortega spoke to the registered owner of the car, Robert Russell, who currently resides in the state of Texas, but whose car was stolen 42 years ago when he lived in Philadephia, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Russell told Detective Ortega that his 1967 Austin Healey, was stolen from his residence in October of 1970. He never gave up looking for the car, and continued his periodic search off and on for these many years, including on Internet websites such as eBay.

While searching the eBay website, he saw what he believed was his Austin Healey for sale.

He looked further and identified the car by comparing the Vehicle Identification Number listed in the eBay ad with the Vehicle Identification Number documented on the car's Certificate of Title, which he still had in his possession.

Detective Ortega was unable to locate the vehicle through National Crime Information Center and instructed Mr. Russell to obtain a copy of the original stolen vehicle report.

For the next couple of weeks they both corresponded with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Major Crimes Auto Squad. It was ultimately discovered that at the time of the original report, the Vehicle’s Identification Number was incorrectly entered into the stolen vehicle system and therefore computer systems never listed the correct identifying numbers as stolen.

The problem was rectified by the detectives and the car was entered into the system correctly.

Meanwhile, Detective Ortega located the stolen Austin Healey at the dealership listed in the eBay ad, and confirmed that the car was the same vehicle reported stolen by Mr. Russell.

Detective Ortega took possession of the vehicle and informed Mr. Russell that his vehicle was recovered intact and in fair condition, although requiring some exterior and interior work. The estimated value of the vehicle in its current condition is about $23,000.00.

After being notified of the recovery of his vehicle, Mr. Russell and his wife arrived in East Los Angeles several days later and took possession of his vehicle, 42 years after it was stolen. The vehicle has been transported back to Texas.

Mr. Russell told Detective Ortega he continued his search for the vehicle, not for its monetary value, but because it had sentimental value to him and his wife. He said at the time of the original purchase he paid $3,000.00 for the vehicle.



Detective Lieutenant John Roberts
East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
www.EastLA.lasd.org
(323) 264-4151

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Forwarded by:
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Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
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Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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PHOTOS

* Bob Russell and his wife standing next to LASD East LA Auto Theft Detective Carlos Ortega.

* Car on small transport as it is delivered to home in Texas

* Mr. & Mrs. Russell with car back in their Texas garage


(Photos- Click on the hyperlink below.)

Address/Location
LASD - East Los Angeles Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
5019 E 3rd St
East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 323-264-4151

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