Eastpointe police uncover auto recycling business

EASTPOINTE – A man is accused of receiving and hiding stolen vehicles and removing valuable parts from them after a tip led Eastpointe police to an auto repair shop at a Warren home.

Authorities in Eastpointe first received information on April 8 about possibly stolen vehicles being stripped at a location in the 24000 block of Valley Avenue, near Stephens Road and Hayes Avenue. Investigators identified two vehicles in the backyard that had been reported stolen from Jackson County: a gray Ram TRX and an orange Dodge Charger.

They also found two people allegedly removing parts from the vehicles. The two suspects cooperated with investigators and provided additional information to the Eastpointe Special Investigations Unit, which in turn led to a home in the 11,000 block of Packard Avenue in Warren.

Here, the SIU found that the homeowner – Korey White, 26 – was allegedly removing parts from stolen vehicles to resell them. According to police, several vehicle bodies and numerous parts, including two engines, were found scattered in the yard of the Warrens’ home.

In the months and weeks that followed, Eastpointe detectives continued their investigation. On July 25, they executed a search warrant that allegedly recovered a handgun from the home. In addition, five vehicles and two engines were seized.

Among the vehicles was a 2016 Chrysler 300 reported stolen in Blackman Township. One of the engines belonged to a stolen 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack reported stolen in Dearborn Heights, while the other engine belonged to a 2015 Jeep Cherokee SRT reported stolen in Brownstown Township.

White was arrested on July 26 and arraigned before Judge Mark Makoski in 38th District Court. He was charged with one count of motor vehicle theft – operating an auto repair shop, a felony punishable by 10 years; one count of receiving and concealing stolen property valued at $20,000 or more, a felony punishable by 10 years; and one count of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, a felony punishable by 5 years. His bail was set at $75,000 cash or surety, with a GPS tag upon release.

As of press time, White’s attorney, Grace Crivello, did not respond to a request for comment.

Eastpointe Police Detective Lt. Alexander Holish said the Eastpointe SIU has made great efforts to fully uncover the criminal operation.

“They (the SIU) spent countless hours of surveillance to obtain the valid search warrant that led to the discovery of important evidence,” Holish said. “If you are a thief or engage in other criminal activity in Eastpointe or the surrounding area, you never know when you are being watched. Your arrest is only a matter of time.”

Holish said residents should be vigilant and report suspicious activity to police.

“If you observe your neighbor continually disassembling vehicles, working on vehicles at night, or parking new vehicles in front of their homes, do not hesitate to report this activity to your local police department,” Holish said.

“Car repair shops are springing up in every city at an alarming rate,” he added. “But no amount of money in the world is worth a person’s freedom. If someone comes up with the idea of ​​running such a shop, they must know that they will be caught and prosecuted.”

The Eastpointe Police Department can be reached at (586) 445-5100.