A Tampa man has been caught red-handed in a major dump truck theft operation, landing him in custody and facing a slew of charges.

The bust: On March 18, detectives found Olansy Marrero altering VIN numbers on stolen dump trucks at a business on Hulbert Avenue, Tampa, according to FOX 13 News.

• Investigators discovered eight stolen dump trucks worth over $1.2 million.
• Marrero's charges include grand theft, operating a chop shop, and tampering with evidence.

The details: These trucks were reported stolen across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina over several years.

• Search warrants on multiple properties linked to the operation yielded three stolen trucks initially, with additional trucks found shortly after.

What they're saying: “These thefts hit hard financially for the truck owners and their families,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated. “We take this kind of crime seriously in our community.”

Law enforcement continues to assess the impact, aiming to prevent future crime and aid those harmed by these thefts.