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State motor vehicle police have arrested a tow truck driver who was using his tow truck to steal cars and sell them to a wrecking yard.
Charlie Roberts, State Motor Police spokesman said, "He'd forge the new titles and sell them as if they were his own."
Police have tied at least 11 vehicle thefts to the one man but believe he may have stolen many more cars.
The victims started getting phone calls this afternoon with the good and then the bad news. Their stolen cars have been found at the wrecking yard, but most of the cars don't even resemble a car anymore.
Roberts said, "There have been 11 vehicles stolen from neighborhoods and residences in Orem. The person stealing the cars was using his personal tow truck and taking them to this wrecking yard."
Police believe the suspect found success because no one was suspicious of a car being towed. Investigators found the 11 stolen cars at the wrecking yard, but four of them have already been crushed and recycled, while seven others have had their parts salvaged.
Roberts says the owner of the yard recognized one of the cars and called them.
Kent Jorgensen, the director of the State Motor Police, said, "He already gutted the tires and wheels and catalytic converters and sold it someplace else. I'm estimating he got at least $200 for that stuff, and then he got over $400 for the car."
Police found the suspect, 45-year-old George Peahl of Springville, already in jail. He was there on charges including vehicle theft, with a long history of arrests. He now faces felony charges of auto theft and theft by deception.
And while the victims won't be getting their cars back, they will be getting some cash from the wrecking yard. "The owner has agreed to pay Blue Book price to the victims, which he doesn't have to do, that's his own choice," Roberts said.
For example, the owner of a stolen 1995 Lincoln Town Car will get $3500. It's not much, but it's a better option than taking home what's left of their car.
Investigators with the state motor police are investigating at other wrecking yards along the Wasatch Front to see if Peahl sold more stolen cars. They also recently busted a similar scheme with another suspect in Davis County.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
E-mail: cwall@ksl.com
