A Philadelphia man is facing multiple charges after he brought a vehicle to a service station for a pre-purchase mechanical inspection that was later determined to have been stolen, according to the Princeton Police Department.
The 24-year-old man was charged with alteration of a vehicle identification number, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, forgery, exhibiting false government documents and hindering apprehension on May 29, police said.
The man was also issued summonses for numerous motor vehicle violations.
Police were sent to the business on Nassau Street in response to a report of a suspicious vehicle that had been brought to the garage for a pre-purchase inspection.
During the investigation, police discovered that the vehicle was a “cloned vehicle,” which meant it had a duplicate vehicle identification number that had been copied from a legitimate vehicle. It was done to conceal the fact that the vehicle had been reported stolen in March.
The man, who also presented a fraudulent title featuring the duplicate vehicle identification number, was processed and released.
