Three San Joaquin Valley men are facing a combined 26 charges of allegedly stealing high-performance "muscle" vehicles from across California and then bragging about the thefts on social media accounts.
The men — ranging in age from 19 to 23 years old — were arrested in Visalia and Hanford by state and local police on suspicion of conspiracy, operating a chop shop, auto theft, possessing stolen goods, and various firearms charges.
The California Attorney General's Office alleges that the trio of men stole or attempted to steal 13 vehicles from El Dorado, Kings, Monterey, Riverside, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Tulare counties over nearly a year starting in July 2023.
The vehicles are valued at a combined $600,000, the attorney general's office reported.
Ring stole 'hellcats,' posted thefts on social media
In the 26-page indictment , the attorney general's office detailed how the trio allegedly targeted dealerships that sold "hellcats" — high-performance vehicles — and private owners.
On several occasions, one of the defendants posted video clips of the thefts in progress on Instagram or Snapchat.
During one attempted theft interrupted at a car dealership in January 2024 by Morgan Hill Police, one of the defendants posted on Instagram that he was hiding in bushes for four hours off Highway 101 after running across the highway and a photo of his ripped sweater as he fled.
"Done stuck on 3 bob wire fence," he allegedly posted on Instagram about his ripped clothes.
The defendants also allegedly repeatedly used Instagram and Snapchat to attempt to sell the stolen vehicles. On one occasion, one of the suspects allegedly went on a live stream in Visalia to announce, "We stole this bitch," referring to a Grand Jeep Cherokee and offering it for $3,000.
In one theft of a privately owned Dodge Challenger in Morgan Hill, the vehicle's owner installed a GPS locator, which allowed police to track down the car in Laton, where another man was paid $300 to store the vehicle before it could be sold or broken down for parts.
“At the California Department of Justice, we are fighting organized crime in the field and in the courtroom,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “We will not tolerate theft that endangers our communities. I am thankful for strong partnerships with local law enforcement that make California a safer state. When we work together, we get results.”
What are hellcats? And why are the vehicles special?
Officially, "Hellcats" are vehicles made by Dodge with the supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Unofficially, though, “Hellcat” can refer to any vehicle powered by that engine.
The vehicles are known for speed and increased engine torque.
Driving a Hellcat is "a monument to mechanical prowess that delivers a driving experience like no other," wrote one dealership on its website .
Hellcats typically cost between $70,000 to $80,000.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California Hellcat muscle car theft ring busted after allegedly posting video of thefts on social media
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