[69RSMAN]

A good local story about a 70 Chevelle and has a good ending... beware for your classic.... Names changed to protect the victims

Classic Chevelle owner locates stolen car via Craigslist ad


Tuesday, April 07, 2009
BOYNTON BEACH — A savvy potential car buyer, police say, sensed something wasn't right when he checked out a car he'd spotted on the Internet trading site Craigslist.
It turned out the classic 1970 two-door Chevelle, was stolen.



William P. Jones III, 29, of Boynton Beach, is charged with grand theft auto, burglary, and dealing in stolen property.
This morning, Judge Ted Booras set Jones' bail at $3,000, with the alternative option of supervised release.
Jones' alleged victim: Carl -- an avid "70s Chevelle nut," Carl said this morning.
Carl, of northern Broward County, bought his first one in 1974 in Buffalo and still has it; he said he's the "second and final owner."
He has two more as well; all three are in pristine condition.
Carl also owns four "parts cars" - Chevelles which are waiting to be restored or which he cannibalizes for parts.
They include a gold, with black vinyl, Chevelle shell - no engine or transmission - that he keeps at property he owns.
He said the 4-acre lot is where he plans to build "my dream home" when he retires.
On Sunday, Carl found someone had cut the chain and taken the car shell, valued at about $3,500.
Carl told police the thief also had taken a storage trailer containing about $3,000 in various period "muscle car" Chevelle parts, including alternators, a power steering box, a dashboard and floor shifters.
Later that day, the victim got a call from Dave-----------------
Dave, also collects and restores classic Chevrolet muscle cars.
He told Carl he had seen an ad for a Chevelle shell on Craigslist and arranged to meet the seller, who called himself "Rick," at Interstate 95.
Dave said "Rick" told him the car had been abandoned from a lot.
"It all seemed a little suspicious. Just didn't sit with right with me," Dave said this afternoon.
Dave said "Rick" then took him over to Carl's property.
"He wasn't too smart. He wasn't a smart thief, that's for sure," Carl said today.
Dave, the would-be buyer, then got Carl's contact information from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Internet Website and alerted him, the report said.
Carl then called "Rick" on Monday and pretended to be a potential buyer.
He later staked out the Lantana address in hopes of seeing his car, without luck, then began driving home.
"Rick" then called and said Carl could see the car that night at xxxxxxx
Carl called police.
About 8 p.m. Monday, Carl met Jones at the location. He then identified the car to officers.
Jones blurted, "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought the car was abandoned."
But Jones then confessed to cutting the chain and using a Chevrolet Blazer to haul off the car and parts.
He also confessed he'd broken into the home, which was vacant, and used it to store stolen property.
Police also found the trailer at an apartment complex in Boynton Beach, the report said.
Carl claimed Jones had last month taken pictures of the car shells and offered them on Craigslist.
Carl said he had contacted Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies, who tried to set up a sting, but the advertisement had come down.

[captcanuck68]

"All's well that ends well..." I like a happy ending.

capt