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51 Arrested In Crackdown On LA County Motorcycle Theft Rings

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities have busted several professional motorcycle theft rings in Los Angeles County that specialized in stealing sport bikes.

"Operation Wheel Spin" led to 51 arrests and the recovery of 110 stolen motorcycles and 29 motorcycle components with a combined value of $848,140, according to the California Highway Patrol.

"It was determined that many of the suspects were using the Internet and social media to sell and distribute the stolen motorcycles and components," CHP Southern Division Chief Dan Bower said.

"Operation Wheel Spin also exposed an insular group of individuals who were involved in a multitude of crimes, which included ... robbery, larceny, burglary, fraud, and identity theft," he said.

The operation also set off several additional criminal investigations in San Diego County and Las Vegas, with more than 100 criminal complaint filings by the California Attorney General's office, Bower said.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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