TEXARKANA, Texas - Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force detectives recovered a stolen 2018 Dodge Challenger after discovering the vehicle had been altered with a fraudulent vehicle identification number, authorities said.
Detectives were contacted by National Insurance Crime Bureau special agents who requested assistance investigating a vehicle being operated in Texarkana. Investigators learned a vehicle in Tennessee carried the same VIN as one believed to be in Texarkana, prompting further examination.
With assistance from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, detectives located the vehicle and conducted an inspection. Authorities determined the VIN displayed on the car was fraudulent and that the vehicle’s true VIN matched a Dodge Challenger reported stolen out of Arlington, Texas, in 2024.
Officials said the individual in possession of the vehicle had purchased it through Facebook Marketplace and was unaware it had been stolen. The vehicle had previously been stopped by officers who did not have specialized training in identifying VIN-swapped vehicles.
The recovery was credited to specialized training provided through a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant-funded task force, which officials said allowed investigators to identify the alteration and return the vehicle to its rightful owner.
Authorities reminded the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles through online marketplaces and advised buyers to verify vehicle information before completing transactions.
