Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force Recovers Stolen Dodge Challenger in Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Detectives with the Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force successfully recovered a stolen 2018 Dodge Challenger on Monday after discovering the vehicle’s identification number had been fraudulently altered.

According to officials, the Challenger was originally reported stolen out of Arlington, Texas, in 2024. Investigators were alerted after National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Special Agents discovered a duplicate VIN connected to two separate vehicles — one located in Tennessee and another in the Texarkana area.

With assistance from the Texarkana, Arkansas Police Department, detectives located and inspected the Challenger. During the inspection, investigators determined the VIN displayed on the vehicle had been tampered with and replaced. Further examination revealed the vehicle’s original VIN matched a car reported stolen.

Authorities said the individual currently in possession of the vehicle had unknowingly purchased it through Facebook Marketplace and was not aware it was stolen.

Officials noted the vehicle had previously been stopped by officers, but the VIN swap went undetected at the time due to the specialized training required to identify such alterations.

Task force officials emphasized that this recovery highlights the importance of specialized auto theft investigations and serves as a reminder for buyers to use caution when purchasing vehicles online.

“If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” investigators warned.