Major Car Clout Case Develops From Investigation Into Break-Ins

The NPS Morning Report is reporting that Shenandoah National Park Rangers in the park's North District received two separate reports of car clouts (auto break-ins) within 20 minutes of each other at separate overlooks on Monday, October 21st.

One of the victims was able to provide a partial description of the suspect vehicle, and a ranger in the Central District soon found it at the Little Stony Man trailhead. The woman inside, who said that she was alone, was not prepared for hiking. While the ranger was interviewing her, a visitor stopped by and reported that there was a man hiding in a nearby ditch. Rangers soon found him.

Special agents and rangers recovered items taken during the two break-ins in the park, and from at least another 13 auto break-ins that had occurred in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, including various ID's and credit cards. Further investigation revealed that the man and woman were part of a larger criminal enterprise. Both remain in jail.

An ISB special agent is continuing the investigation along with investigators from the Secret Service and various state and local law enforcement agencies.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies