8 people arrested in raid on major theft ring in Kansas City

Eight people are in custody after Kansas City police broke up a major theft ring last week. Detectives from the Kansas City Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit conducted the raid after a months-long investigation with assistance from city officials and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. On Thursday, KCPD released several videos of the recovery effort in an empty field near 54th Street and Brighton Avenue. “People started setting up camp on private property and city property,” said KCPD Detective William Richter. People had been moving to the land over the course of the last year, which ultimately led to property owners asking for help in cleaning up the property. According to KCPD, the operation resulted in eight arrests, 34 vehicles towed, the recovery of over $10,000 worth of stolen medical equipment, 10 stolen BMX bikes, a golf cart, ski equipment and numerous stolen license plates associated with several stolen vehicles. Among the stolen vehicles were Nat Jonjevic’s BMX bikes. “I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the scene last Thursday to pick up some of the bikes and it was very clear that a lot of things were stolen from a lot of people,” Jonjevic said. “We are grateful for the hard work of all detectives and the assistance of the Kansas City and Missouri State Highway Patrol,” KCPD said in a brief statement on its social media pages.