Scottsdale police arrest three in alleged luxury car theft ring tied to North Valley dealerships

Scottsdale police arrested three suspects Tuesday in connection with a luxury car theft ring operating across the North Valley, officials said. The group allegedly stole high-end vehicles, altered their VINs, and rented them out on the peer-to-peer platform Turo, moving stolen cars into rental use within a week, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The arrests followed coordinated search warrants served Tuesday, June 17, at seven locations across the Phoenix metropolitan area, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Officials said the operation, dubbed “Operation Escalading Switch,” led to the recovery of 29 stolen vehicles valued at nearly $2.5 million. The suspects—Ali Ahmad, 29; Delia Rocha, 32; and Mario Garcia Rodriguez, 33—all from Glendale, were taken into custody in connection with the ring.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Escalading Switch,” led to the recovery of 29 stolen vehicles valued at nearly $2.5 million.

Authorities said the group targeted high-end vehicles, including brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Corvette, and Rolls-Royce, according to a report from FOX 10. DPS officials described the theft ring as sophisticated, involving the alteration of vehicle identification numbers to disguise the stolen cars. The vehicles were then quickly listed on Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform, where unsuspecting customers rented them. According to DPS, the operation could move a stolen vehicle into rental use within as little as one week.

In addition to the stolen vehicles, law enforcement seized weapons and cash from Ahmad’s residence, FOX 10 reported. The arrests followed an investigation involving multiple partner agencies, with DPS tracking profits from the ring to accounts in the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East. The suspects face multiple felony charges, including theft-related offenses, fraud, and VIN tampering, officials said.

Earlier stages of the investigation had linked 16 stolen vehicles to the ring, with an estimated value of more than $750,000, according to Yahoo and MSN coverage. A separate Vehicle Theft Task Force operation recovered luxury vehicles valued at around $700,000, according to a prior DPS release, though officials noted these cases are distinct from “Operation Escalading Switch.”

The Arizona Department of Public Safety framed the arrests as part of a broader effort to combat organized auto theft in the Phoenix area. The investigation included the execution of search warrants at seven different locations across the Valley, underscoring the scope of the ring’s operations.

Separately, authorities in Tempe are investigating vandalism at Plaza Motors, a luxury car dealership near Scottsdale and McDowell roads, according to ABC15. The dealership reported damage exceeding $15,000 to vehicles including Ferrari, BMW, and Aston Martin models. Police released surveillance footage of a suspect and offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. DPS officials confirmed this case is unrelated to the Scottsdale theft ring but noted both incidents highlight ongoing concerns about high-end vehicle crimes in the region.