Local car owners hope the police will catch the perpetrators and put the brakes on their covert and costly activity.
The recent rash of thefts involving parts from the old Chevelle is somewhat puzzling to some people who own classic vehicles. They believe the stealing may be due to the popularity of the Chevelle and other muscle cars of the 1960s, and the high price of parts for the car.
Members of the local Appalachian Golden Classic, such as Gary Gembe, said theft isn't a problem for most of the car owners. The reason is that most of the people who have such cars keep them under lock and key, he said.
"Most of the guys who have cars that are really nice, don't let them set out. We haven't had any trouble with our club members. We have friends with classic cars. So far they keep their cars wrapped," he said.
Gembe, an owner of classic cars for quite a few years, said he believes the Chevelle might be targeted because it's in demand.
"A lot of the muscle cars from the 1960s, including the Chevelle, GTOs and Mustangs, are in demand. People are restoring them," he said.
Parts for the vehicles can run up to $800 for a fender, or several hundred dollars for a door.
"If they can steal them, I guess they think that's better than buying them," he said. "They might have a car they can fix up themselves. Most likely they
have people in need of parts, and they go steal the parts for them."Police reports
Earlier this month, Greencastle Police arrested two people allegedly involved in the theft of parts from a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle. According to police, Jimmy Lee Rogers, 42, Lewistown, and a 13-year-old were taken into custody, the juvenile released to family members.
Greencastle Police and other agencies have been working to address the theft of classic auto parts. Police said Rogers and the teenager matched the description of individuals involved in an auto parts theft that occurred two days earlier. In that theft, more than $2,000 worth of auto parts were taken from a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle.
In Hamilton Township, someone swiped the doors from a 1966 Chevelle parked in the driveway of 615 Twin Bridge Road, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg. The doors were taken between July 23 and Aug. 8 while the homeowner was on vacation. In this case, the car was being used for parts, police said.
In Wells Township in Fulton County, parts valued at more than $1,000 were stolen from two classic Chevrolets while they were parked at 1176 New Granada Highway in Waterfall. An air cleaner with an elbow connector and four hubcaps were taken from a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS and the center caps and trim rings were taken from a 1966 Chevelle, according to Pennsylvania State Police, McConnellsburg.
Between July 4 and 14, someone stole two bucket seats and a four-speed shift console from a 1967 Chevelle parked at 6925 Horst Road. The car parts are original and considered hard to obtain. Franklin County Crimesolvers is offering a reward of as much as $2,000 to help locate the stolen parts.
A 1972 Chevelle was targeted in July. Parts were taken from the vehicle while it was parked at 2589 Leafmore Road, according to state police in Chambersburg.
'More common'
"I heard about parts being taken off of cars," said Jeff Cauffman, vice president of Appalachian Golden Classics. "In other parts of the country, it's more widespread than here. I guess it's getting more common because of the value of the older cars and it's hard to find parts for them."
Cauffman believes the Chevelle is sought out because "a lot of them were made and a lot of them are still around." Cauffman has a 1966 Chevelle.
Gembe has a 1955 Chevrolet Belair Convertible, and a 1965 Corvette Stingray Convertible. He bought the 1955 vehicle in 1988 and restored it in 1990. He purchased the other one in 1999 and drove it for a year before restoring it in 2000.
"I just enjoy driving them," Gembe said. He noted that a Chevrolet "always seems to be the hot ticket" ride.
