Published: January 05, 2009 01:20 pm      

Two arrested for vehicle theft

Law enforcement officials recovered several stolen vehicles Tuesday in two separate incidents and made two arrests.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies worked with Venus police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Insurance Crime Bureau on the cases.

In the first case, a deputy received reports of possible stolen vehicles in the 200 block of Balch Lane in Alvarado. Deputies found a 2004 Dodge truck displaying license plates that did not match the vehicle.

An occupant at the residence, Michael Vaughn Ham, 36, was arrested after he took responsibility for the stolen truck, according to reports.

Deputies confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Hood County and charged Ham with theft of property between $20,000 and $100,000. Ham’s bond has been set at $25,000.

Deputies also found a trailer used to haul cars, which was stolen from Budget Rentals in Fort Worth on the property.

Deputies arrested Ronald Ray Martin, 54, for the theft. Martin received the same charge as Ham. Martin’s bond has not been set.

In an unrelated incident Tuesday, a resident flagged down a Venus police officer about an abandoned vehicle.

The vehicle was located on County Road 501 near a house and barn that had recently burned, according to reports.

Venus police and JCSO deputies found two Honda Acuras and one Honda Civic on the property, all three of which had been reported stolen.

Police also found a trailer with the VIN plate removed.

Investigation into the matter continues, officials said.