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Will County man arrested after task force finds 11 stolen vehicles, tractor and trailer in backyard: police

By Jenna Carroll
Updated  January 31, 2025 10:48am CST
Joliet
FOX 32 Chicago

The Brief

    • Oluwafemi Malachi, 38, was arrested after stolen vehicles were found in his backyard during a search by the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force and Joliet Police.
    • Authorities discovered 30 vehicles, including 11 reported stolen, along with a trailer, a Kubota tractor, and tools used to alter odometers and program keys.
    • Details about the origins of the stolen vehicles and any potential sales by Malachi remain unknown.

JOLIET, Ill. - A Will County man was arrested this week after law enforcement agents allegedly found stolen vehicles in his backyard.

Oluwafemi Malachi, 38, has been charged with aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle and 11 counts of possession of stolen vehicles.

What we know:

On Thursday, the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, along with the Joliet Police Department, served a search warrant at a home in the 1500 block of California Avenue. 

There, law enforcement agents found 30 vehicles in the rear of the home.

Police say the backyard was essentially being used as an auto salvage yard, with Facebook Marketplace serving as the platform to sell car parts. 

Out of the 30 vehicles, 11 were reported stolen, along with a trailer and a Kubota tractor. Authorities also found tools typically used to roll back odometers and program new keys.

Malachi, the homeowner, was arrested and processed at the Joliet Police Department before being released on a Notice to Appear. Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.

What we don't know:

Details about where the vehicles were stolen from are still unclear.

The Source: Information from this article was obtained from the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force and Joliet Police Department. 

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