A stolen vehicle investigation in Stanislaus County led authorities to a Modesto-area car dealership, where investigators say they recovered multiple stolen vehicles and arrested two people connected to the business.

Public reporting identifies the suspects as Wissam Alghazzi, 49, and Narjis Alghazzi, 22, both Stanislaus County residents.

According to reports from regional news outlets, the investigation began after a Nissan Sentra was reported stolen. Detectives with the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force (StanCATT) tracked the case to a Modesto dealership, where investigators say the stolen vehicle was located along with two additional stolen vehicles.

Authorities then arrested two people tied to the business during the investigation.

Two Arrested in Connection With Dealership Investigation

Law enforcement reports say Wissam Alghazzi and Narjis Alghazzi were identified as the owner and manager connected to the dealership involved in the investigation.

Both were booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on multiple charges related to vehicle theft and possession of stolen vehicles, according to public reports and law-enforcement-linked announcements.

Officials have not publicly released every detail about the case, including whether additional vehicles or suspects may still be tied to the investigation.

At this stage, reporting has focused primarily on:

• The stolen vehicle investigation

• The dealership connection

• The recovery of multiple vehicles

• The arrests of two individuals connected to the business

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.

How the Investigation Unfolded

According to public reporting, the case began as a single stolen vehicle investigation.

Detectives later traced the stolen Nissan Sentra to a dealership in Modesto. During follow-up investigation at the location, authorities reportedly discovered two additional stolen vehicles on site.

Cases like this are often handled by the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force (StanCATT), which focuses on complex vehicle theft investigations across the county.

StanCATT has previously been recognized for recovering stolen vehicles and investigating organized vehicle theft operations throughout the region.

Dealership Connection Raises Questions

What makes this case unusual is that investigators say the stolen vehicle investigation led directly to a local car dealership, where multiple vehicles were reportedly recovered.

That detail has drawn additional attention because most stolen vehicle cases typically involve a single vehicle recovery rather than several vehicles found in one location.

Authorities have not publicly released additional details about how the vehicles allegedly ended up at the dealership or whether additional individuals may be involved.

Because the investigation is still active, more information may emerge as the case moves forward.

Businesses Publicly Linked to the Suspect

Some news coverage has described the location only as a “Modesto-area car dealership.”

However, public business records appear to connect Wissam A. Alghazzi to several used-car businesses in Modesto.

Public records list Alghazzi as being associated with a used-car dealership called City Gear in Modesto, which has had a California DMV occupational dealer license on file.

Separate publicly available court records also show Alghazzi connected to Sam Auto Sales, another Modesto vehicle sales business, in a civil dispute involving vehicle sales.

At the time of the latest reporting, investigators had not publicly confirmed the exact dealership name tied to the stolen vehicle investigation.

Authorities have only stated that stolen vehicles were recovered from a Modesto-area dealership during the investigation.

Because the case is ongoing, it remains unclear whether additional businesses, vehicles, or individuals may still be connected.

Past Public Attention

The Alghazzi family name has appeared in local news coverage before for a different reason.

In 2019, ABC10 featured a story about a father and daughter in Modesto who were helping feed homeless residents in the community. The segment highlighted efforts to distribute food to people in need across the area.

That earlier coverage focused on community outreach and charitable work. The current criminal investigation is unrelated to that story but has drawn renewed attention because of the names involved.

You can watch that earlier ABC10 report below.

Courtesy of ABC10 Youtube Channel

Investigation Status

Authorities say the case remains under investigation.

At this point, the key confirmed facts from public reporting are:

Quick Facts

Location: Modesto / Stanislaus County
Lead agency: Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force (StanCATT)
Investigation began with: Report of a stolen Nissan Sentra
Vehicles recovered: The reported stolen car plus two additional stolen vehicles
Arrested: Wissam Alghazzi, 49, and Narjis Alghazzi, 22
Case status: Investigation ongoing

Officials have not announced whether additional arrests or charges may follow.

Community Impact

Vehicle theft remains a major concern across California’s Central Valley. Local law enforcement agencies regularly work together through task forces like StanCATT to track stolen vehicles and investigate organized theft activity.

Cases that lead to the recovery of multiple vehicles often draw increased public attention, particularly when businesses or dealerships become part of the investigation.

As more details are released, authorities say they will continue updating the public about developments in the case.

Sources

• Modesto Bee

• Regional Central Valley news reports

• Public law enforcement summaries

• Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force reporting

• ABC10 community coverage archive