Detroit Police say nearly 100 stolen cars discovered at business

A good, old fashion police investigation leads to the discovery of nearly 100 stolen cars in Detroit.  Some were involved in carjackings.

Newer cars, older cars, all makes and models were being hauled off Thursday evening as evidence.  Detroit Police say they've confirmed a big jackpot at Midland Used Auto Parts on Lyndon at Wyoming on the city's west side.

"We received a tip, an anonymous tip, regarding this location possibly housing stolen vehicles.  Based on that tip, surveillance was set up and a vehicle was observed pulling into the lot without a license plate.  Based on that information, a business inspection was done, and once that business inspection was done, the vehicle that was observed pulling into the lot was actually confirmed as a stolen vehicle," said Detroit Police Sergeant Jonathan Parnell.

Cops also found a backhoe.  Acting on a tip, police sat on the address and watched, and when they saw a car driven in with no license plate, the car was stolen, they moved in and arrested the 71-year-old owner of the business.  His home address is in Canada.

"What we believe is that this operation was actually ... dismantling, shredding and crushing vehicles.  Vehicles were being dismantled for parts," Parnell said.

The owner is under arrest.  Police say his wife drove up to make an inquiry.  She was not arrested.  She was allowed to remove a Doberman pincher from the property and leave.

We asked her what she knew about her husband's work.

"I have no comment," she said.

Police say any Tom, Dick or Harry could show up with a stolen car and get paid cash no questions asked.  The cars had been stolen or carjacked all across metro Detroit.

"We have a person in custody.  Actually they're a Canadian resident, the owner of the location, so far, who's assumed the responsibility for the property inside.  That person's in custody right now, and we're also possibly looking at federal charges.  We're working with ICE agents to determine if any of the stolen goods were taken from the United States over to Canada," said Parnell.

That owner also has two scrap yards in Canada.