Michigan dad, 2 sons and Ford worker nabbed in multi-million dollar auto parts theft ring
A Ford employee was arrested after authorities said they uncovered a multi-million-dollar theft ring in Michigan. Christopher Sadowski
Authorities in Michigan say a father, his two sons, and a Ford Motor Company employee have been arrested in connection with an expansive theft ring accused of diverting new vehicle parts straight off Ford assembly lines and reselling them online for more than two years.
The four suspects were taken into custody on May 6 during coordinated police raids in Dearborn, Canton, and Detroit, following an investigation that spanned several months, according to Fox 2 Detroit.
Dearborn Police allege the family partnered with a Ford worker assigned to a Canton facility to channel stolen components into Detroit-area businesses, where the parts were sold on eBay and through local auto shops. Names of the individuals have not yet been released, pending a formal indictment from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
“These arrests were made possible through the diligent and sophisticated work of our investigative units and with help and cooperation from Ford Motor Company Global Security,” Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin told the Detroit Free Press.
Investigators say the scheme involved removing high-value parts from multiple Ford plants, including the Rouge Complex in Dearborn, the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, and the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock. These factories produce some of Ford’s most in-demand vehicles—the F-150, Bronco, Ranger, and Mustang.
Targets reportedly included bumpers, hoods, headlights, taillights, and running boards. Detectives were stunned by the amount of stolen stock recovered.
“At one of the Detroit shops, from the floor to the ceiling it was stacked with brand-new auto parts,” Shahin said.
Search warrants were carried out at two Detroit businesses and at homes in Dearborn and Canton. Video from the raids showed pallets marked “Property of Ford” being pulled from a warehouse near West Chicago Street, where officers found rows of bumpers and hoods lining the walls.
The investigation expanded after Ford’s internal security team identified serious inventory discrepancies across several plants. Detectives later matched serialized parts recovered during the raids to items reported missing from the assembly lines.
The four suspects could face charges including racketeering, operating a criminal enterprise, and grand theft auto. Ford spokesperson Lars Weborg thanked authorities, saying the company appreciated law enforcement’s cooperation and efforts.
Officials have not yet explained how the thieves managed to remove such large quantities of components from restricted factory areas. The Detroit businesses linked to the resale operation were shut down during the raids and may remain closed as the investigation continues. Shahin added that the department is working with partners “to see if we can shut them down permanently.”
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