Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993 TAG: 9307230123
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
But there was nothing illegal about this performance. The trio who stripped the Ford of its parts are automobile repairmen from Detroit who work as consultants to Allstate Insurance Co.
The demonstration by Jeff Nikkila, 38; John Beck, 42; and Ken Mayry, 46, was sponsored by Virginia State Police's Help Eliminate Auto Theft program to show the speed with which thieves can dismantle a vehicle.
Authorities say more than 20,000 vehicles worth more than $110 million are stolen in Virginia each year.
After automobiles are stolen, they are taken to "chop shops" and dismantled. Officials estimate a chop shop can turn a $20,000 car into parts worth as much as $40,000.
"If auto theft were a company, its revenues would place it approximately 59th on the list of Fortune's 500 largest companies," said Michael C. Peters, administrator of the HEAT program.
by CNB