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Hoods, headlights and a chop shop: Man indicted in alleged Jeep theft scheme in Chatham County

Diogenes Morel Martinez is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts from five Jeep Wranglers.

Hoods, headlights and a chop shop: Man indicted in alleged Jeep theft scheme in Chatham County

Diogenes Morel Martinez is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts from five Jeep Wranglers.

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      IF YOU RECOGNIZE ANYONE IN THIS PHOTO... CONTACT SAVANNAH POLICE. AND A MAN IN CHATHAM COUNTY IS FACING SERIOUS CHARGES... ACCUSED OF STRIPPING MULTIPLE JEEP WRANGLERS FOR PARTS...THEN SELLING THEM. "DIOGENES MOREL MARTINEZ" FACES FIVE COUNTS OF THEFT BY TAKING, CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, AND FIVE COUNTS OF OPERATING A CHOP SHOP. AUTHORITIES SAY SEPTEMBER 2ND OF 2023 - HE REMOVED PARTS WORTH - *THOUSANDS FROM AT LEAST FIVE CARS IN CHATHAM
      WJCL logo
      Updated: 5:16 PM EDT Jun 10, 2025
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      Hoods, headlights and a chop shop: Man indicted in alleged Jeep theft scheme in Chatham County

      Diogenes Morel Martinez is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts from five Jeep Wranglers.

      WJCL logo
      Updated: 5:16 PM EDT Jun 10, 2025
      Editorial Standards
      A Florida man is facing more than half a dozen charges in Chatham County. He is accused of stealing Jeep parts and then taking them to a chop shop, according to a recently unsealed indictment.Diogenes Morel Martinez was indicted on five counts of theft by taking, one count of second-degree criminal damage to property and five counts of operating a chop shop. The charges stem from a string of alleged thefts and property damage on Sept. 2, 2023.Chatham County prosecutors say Martinez stole thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts from five Jeep Wranglers, including hoods, headlights and mounting hardware.Authorities allege that the stolen parts were taken to a public storage facility in Miami Gardens known to be used as a chop shop. A chop shop is essentially a location where stolen vehicles or parts are dismantled for resale or disposal.A bond hearing has been scheduled for mid-July.TRENDING STORIESExperts issue warning about invasive ant in Georgia whose sting packs a punchImpact Day: Isolated severe storms possible for Coastal GA and Lowcountry, here's the timing'True leader': Tybee Island mourns death of city's HR director, killed in crash

      A Florida man is facing more than half a dozen charges in Chatham County. He is accused of stealing Jeep parts and then taking them to a chop shop, according to a recently unsealed indictment.

      Diogenes Morel Martinez
      Chatham County Detention Center
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      Diogenes Morel Martinez was indicted on five counts of theft by taking, one count of second-degree criminal damage to property and five counts of operating a chop shop. The charges stem from a string of alleged thefts and property damage on Sept. 2, 2023.

      Chatham County prosecutors say Martinez stole thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts from five Jeep Wranglers, including hoods, headlights and mounting hardware.

      Authorities allege that the stolen parts were taken to a public storage facility in Miami Gardens known to be used as a chop shop. A chop shop is essentially a location where stolen vehicles or parts are dismantled for resale or disposal.

      A bond hearing has been scheduled for mid-July.

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