Millions in Car Parts Stolen Off Ford Assembly Lines in Alleged Employee-Led Theft Ring
In 2019, the body shop was stripped down to its concrete floor and completely rebuilt, adding 600 new welding robots.
Photo courtesy Ford Motor Co.
DEARBORN, MI—A former Ford Motor Company employee is at the center of a major criminal investigation after Dearborn police uncovered a large-scale operation involving the theft and resale of millions of dollars’ worth of new car parts. Authorities say the thefts took place over two years and involved parts being stolen directly off the assembly lines at Ford manufacturing plants in Wayne, Dearborn, and Flat Rock, Michigan.
According to Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, the stolen parts—including hoods, taillights, and bumpers—were transported to third-party auto shops and sold online, particularly through eBay. One such facility, located off West Chicago in Detroit, was found stacked floor to ceiling with brand-new parts when police executed a search warrant.
The investigation remains ongoing, and while the full scope of the operation has not been disclosed, police confirmed that every suspect is now in custody. Charges pending against those involved include grand theft auto, racketeering, and operating a criminal enterprise.
Ford’s global investigations team collaborated closely with local law enforcement throughout the case. Police are now working to shut down the locations connected to the enterprise permanently.
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