California DMV assisted with locating and recovering the vehicle

“Excellent work by these teams of law enforcement officers, and it sounds like, just in the nick of time.  After having their car stolen and missing for eight months, this family must have given up hope that their family heirloom was ever going to be recovered.  I can only imagine they must be extremely grateful.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN FRANCISCO – On July 24, 2025, the San Francisco Police Department (SSFP) announced, that with the help of California Department of Motor Vehicles Investigation Division, it had located and recovered a family’s stolen classic Mercedes-Benz months after it was taken.

On November 23, 2024, at approximately 10:27 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to the 100 block of Turquoise Way regarding a residential burglary.  Officers responded to the scene and were advised that a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL was stolen from the residence during the burglary.

Throughout the course of several months, members assigned to the Auto Theft Unit worked diligently with members of the city-wide plainclothes team to identify two suspects in the case, Michael Demetrescu and Anthony Norman Fretty.

On March 6, 2025, Demetrescu was placed under arrest and booked into San Francisco County Jail for burglary (459 PC 2nd) and vehicle theft (10851 cvc).

On June 23, 2025, SFPD investigators were contacted by the California Department of Motor Vehicles Investigation Division (DMV) regarding the stolen Mercedes. Investigators were advised that the stolen Mercedes was listed for sale and was being prepared for export to the Netherlands.

Through the efforts of SFPD’s Auto Theft Unit and the DMV, the vehicle was recovered on June 26, 2025, at a shipping facility in Richmond.

On July 17, 2025, Fetty was placed under arrest and booked into San Francisco County Jail for vehicle theft (10851 (a) CVC), possession of stolen property (496 d(a) PC), and delaying an investigation (148(a)(1) PC).

The Mercedes, which is a family heirloom, was returned to the owners of the car and per SFPD, the investigation is ongoing.