Chop Shop Busted Along Joliet's California Avenue, 12 Charges: Police

JOLIET ? A 38-year-old Joliet property owner on California Avenue, Oluwafemi Malachi, has been charged with one count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle and 11 counts of possession of stolen motor vehicles. On Thursday, Malachi was processed at the Joliet Police Department and released on a notice to appear.

Further charges are anticipated, authorities announced.

According to Friday's press release: The Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force with help from the Joliet Police Department, conducted a search warrant at a property Thursday in the 1500 block of California Avenue. During the investigation, the Tri-County task force found 30 vehicles in the rear of the residence.

The backyard of the property was used as an automotive salvage yard, with Facebook Marketplace serving as the platform for selling automotive parts.

Of the 30 vehicles in the yard, the auto theft task force said it discovered 11 stolen motor vehicles, a stolen trailer, and a stolen Kubota tractor. TCAT Agents also located multiple devices commonly used to roll back odometers and program new keys.