Raleigh police warn of 'Frankenstein cars'
>> NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL
NEWS. THIS IS WRAL.
>> IT'S HARD TO SEE UNTIL YOU
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
BUT YOU COULD BE SHARING A
PARKING LOT WITH SOMETHING LAW
ENFORCEMENT CALLS A
FRANKENSTEIN CAR QUITE THE TERM
THERE. IT'S AN ELABORATE SCHEME
THAT BLENDS STOLEN AND
PURCHASED PARTS INTO AN
UNTRACEABLE VEHICLE.
>> WRAL, SHAUN GALLAGHER SHOWS
US HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
THIS.
YOU HAVE THOSE TOYS AS A KID,
YOU CAN PLAY AROUND WITH SWAP
THE TOPS WHEN YOU GOT SICK.
A ONE BECAUSE YOU LIKE THE LOOK
OF A NOTHER. ONE BALL PARKS ARE
DOING SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.
FINDING CHASSIS IS JUST LIKE
THIS AND PUTTING STOLEN AUTO
PARTS ON TOP OF IT. SOMETHING
POLICE ARE CALLING FRANKENSTEIN
VEHICLES AND THE WAY THEY'RE
DOING THIS IS MAKING IT A LOT
HARDER TO DETECT.
>> ON RALEIGH ROADS, THERE ARE
MONSTERS AMONG US. DO YOU GUYS
USE THE TERM FRANKENSTEIN CAR?
WE'VE YES. HAS BEEN USED TO
THOMAS LOC. HE SAYS THESE
FRANKENSTEIN CARS CAN BE HARD,
IDENTIFY CASUAL.
GLANCE. THE CARS CAN SHOW THE
SAME. THEN AS AS WHAT'S BEING
SHOWN ON THE PAPERWORK
PRESENTED AT THE TIME OF THE
TRAFFIC STOP. AND SO THOSE 2
THINGS MATCH UP.
>> YOU KNOW, AN OFFICER
SECONDED A MUCH DEEPER INTO
IT RECENTLY WON. RPD OFFICER
DID DIG DEEPER. A SEARCH
WARRANT SAID THE CAR LOOKED
LIKE THIS. A 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE
TRAIL HOG VALUED AT OVER
$82,000. BUT THE OFFICER FOUND
THE VAN ON THE FRAME WAS FOR A
2015 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.
OVERLAND LIKE THIS. MY NURSES
ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
>> THE SAME CHASSIS IS JUST
WHAT'S BEING PUT ONTO THAT
CHASIN. BUT IT'S WORTH
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. ACCORDING
TO KELLY BLUE BOOK THAT SHE WAS
ABOUT 9 TO $12,000.28. YEAR-OLD
CALEB JONES IS CHARGED WITH
ALTERING THE SERIAL NUMBER AND
POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY.
A FRANKENSTEIN VEHICLE WITH A
CLEAN SKELETON BUT STOLEN PARTS
THAT YOUR INTERIOR TREND THIS
YEAR FOR IF YOUR FRONT DASH
GAUGES AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU
GOT THE ENGINES. LAW
ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES JONES HAD
THE VEHICLE FOR PERSONAL USE,
BUT WHEN TENANTS LOCKING SAYS
OTHERS WILL TRY TO SELL THE
VEHICLE TO TURN A PROFIT.
BUT POLICE FIND IT. THE NEW
OWNER WON'T FACE CHARGES.
HOWEVER, THEY WILL LOSE MONEY.
THEY SPENT ON IT AND THE CAR
BECAUSE POLICE HAVE TO RETURN
THE STOLEN CARTS. YOU CAN AVOID
BEING A VICTIM BY COMPARING
SOMETHING LIKE CARFAX. REPORT.
DETAILS AND WITH WHAT YOU SEE
IN PERSON. SO IT HAS FEATURES
THAT SHOULD HAVE RED FLAG.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE FEATURES
SHOULD HAVE TO RED FLAG.
>> AND RALEIGH POLICE TELL ME
IF YOU ARE BUYING A USED CAR,
IF YOU JUST SIMPLY ASK FOR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAR FAX
REPORT, THAT'S USUALLY ENOUGH
TO DETER THAT PERSON FROM
SELLING IT TO YOU. IF THEY DO
HAVE A VEHICLE THAT COULD BE
CONSIDERED A FRANKENSTEIN
VEHICLE. NOW, IF YOU'D LIKE
SOME MORE ADVICE FROM
LIEUTENANTS LOCKING WE HAVE
THAT ALL UP ON OUR WEBSITE AT
WRAL DOT COM. JUST LOOK FOR