The Eyewitness National Crime Alert for September 18, 2017
These incidents were reported across the country from 9.11.17 to 9.18.17
Scranton, PA — Reported 9.11.17
Ski-Masked Metal Thieves Still at Large After $32,000 Heist
A $5,000 reward is still up for grabs for anyone who can help identify the two thieves who stole $32,000 in cash from two safes on a scrap metal lot. They cut through the “thick steel” of the office safe, and “possibly used explosives” to access the second safe in the building.
The alarm system had also been cut. Between the missing cash and the damages to the facility, the break-in caused a total of $40,000 in losses for the recycling business.
Officials claim that the thieves — both wearing ski masks — seemed to be familiar with the building’s layout, and believe they had visited the facility “several times before.” Anyone with information should call the Scranton police department at 570–348–4139. (Original article)
Washington, MO — Reported 9.11.17
Man Steals $100K in Vehicles, Trailers from Area Dealerships & Businesses
A man from Dittmer, MO, confessed stealing seven “side-by-side vehicles,” a motorcycle, and a trailer from a local dealership on 8.11.17. He also stole weapons, TVs, and other items from a local storage facility and homes in the area. Police have charged him for the thefts, and he remains to be sentenced. (Original article)
Gulfport, AL — Reported 9.12.17
Woman Arrested for a 75-Mile “Test Drive” Theft
After a woman took a 2010 Chrysler Sebring for a test drive in Mobile, AL, the dealership expected her to go for a quick spin and return to the lot. She never did.
Employees then called the sheriff’s department, which sent deputies to the woman’s neighborhood 75 miles away in Gulfport to find the car — and the test drive thief — at her home. She cooled her heels at the Harrison County Jail Monday night (9.11.17) before leaving on $50,000 bond. (Original article)
Washington, DC & Greenwood, DE — Reported 9.12.17
Delaware Police Arrest Washington-Area Suspect in Tire Theft
At 5 AM on 9.10.17, police responded to a suspicious person report at a car dealership on Beach Highway. They initially missed the individual, but found two trucks missing tires that had been neatly stacked beside another pickup truck with Washington, DC tags. Surveillance footage recorded the would-be tire thief fleeing the scene as police arrived at the lot.
Later that day, troopers tracked down a man fitting the eyewitness’s description and the security footage. They found a key to the intended getaway truck in the man’s pocket, and arrested him for the attempted tire theft. The tire thief is also the primary suspect in a casual break-and-entry at another store, where he took some beef jerky and the cash in the tip jar. (Original article)
Decatur, AL — Reported 9.12.17
Joyriding Teen Thieves Caught in Alabama
Thieves hit a local dealership twice in a single week. The first theft, reported on a Sunday (9.3.17), took a 2010 silver Honda Pilot and a 2016 gold Honda Accord. The following Saturday (9.9.17) saw two more go missing: A 2016 white Honda Pilot and a 2017 black Honda Civic.
Police managed to catch the black Civic “after a short vehicle pursuit,” taking all juvenile occupants into custody. Police also nabbed the white Pilot’s driver after another pursuit. (Thankfully, these pursuits didn’t end in a fiery car crash, unlike another set of teens in Florida who paid for their “stolos” with their lives.)
One 15-year-old has been charged with the thefts from both incidents. (Original article)
Westchester, NY — Reported 9.12.17
District Attorney Brings Charges Against “Synthetic Identity” Car Fraudster
On 9.8.17, the Westchester County District Attorney’s identity theft unit brought charges against a Nanuet man. He stands accused of creating a fraudulent “synthetic identity” with a ten-year-old’s social security number. He then financed vehicles on 2.1.17 & 2.2.17 from two separate dealerships, and never made payments.
Eventually, authorities tracked him down from two driving-while-intoxicated incidents, as well as a lapsed insurance and driver’s license. One dealership managed to repossess the stolen car after he drove the car to a court appearance; the other was recovered from a Bronx auto body shop. (Original article)
Audubon County, IA — Reported 9.12.17
Iowan Scrap Metal & Tool Thief Wanted
In July 2017, someone (or multiple people) stole a trailer, a welder, scrap metal, and “various other tools” worth over $12,000 from a business on Bluebird Avenue. Anyone with information should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 712–563–2631 or the Audubon County Crime Stoppers at 712–563–2234. (Original article)
Putnam County, NY — Reported 9.12.17
Eyewitness Stops Dealership Burglar In His Tracks
During a dealership’s off-hours on 3.18.17, the employee of a neighboring business spied a stranger’s car parked in the lot. He then watched as a man left the car, walked to the back of the dealership, and returned to his car “carrying a plastic bag.” At that point, the eyewitness called the police, who arrested the man.
The man confessed to breaking into the dealership and stealing a cash register. (Police recovered the register without incident.) On 9.5.17, a county judge sentenced him to two to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a felony third-degree burglary. (Original article)
Murfreesboro, TN — Reported 9.12.17
8 Stolen Keys and 1 Truck Recovered — 3 Vehicles Still Missing
Police responded to a drunk and disorderly call for four people intoxicated in a Wendy’s parking lot inside a black Chevy Silverado with dealer plates. In addition to what one of the suspects told officers was a syringe of methamphetamine and a baggie “that contained a crystal substance,” officers also found eight car keys stolen from a local dealership on 9.9.17.
The dealership owner came to the scene to identify the keys — and the Chevy Silverado — as the dealership’s. However, three more cars from the 9.9.17 heist — a 2008 GMC Arcadia, a 2008 Nissan Titan, and a 2007 Ford F-150 — remain missing.
Police arrested one of the individuals for theft over $10,000. The case is still open. (Original article)
Murfreesboro, TN — 9.12.17
$15K in Tires Missing
A dealership lost $15,000 in wheels and tires from three vehicles. A 2017 GMC Yukon Denali, a 2018 Silverado truck, and a 2017 Cadillac Escalade all need new tires and rims after the thefts. Currently, there are no leads or arrests connecting to this theft. (Original article)
West Milford, NJ — 9.12.17
Two Thieves Steal 14 Laptops from Scrap Metal Facility
Two men are charged with felony theft for stealing 14 “junk laptops” from the recycling center. They grabbed the laptops from the center’s “electronics trailer,” worth a combined $500. One of the thieves is also charged with possessing counterfeit money. (Original article)
Pontiac, MI — Reported 9.13.17
Almost 70 “Dieselgate” VW Cars Stolen, Resold Under False Titles to Dealerships
Police report that “as many as 69 Dieselgate buyback vehicles” have disappeared from the makeshift holding lot at the Silverdome. Investigators say the cars are resold to out-of-state customers and dealerships in Indiana and Kentucky using fake Michigan titles.
The problem first appeared after VINs labeled as bought back by Volkswagen reappeared as actively registered vehicles in the system. One dealership in particular was involved with as many as 41 of those missing cars. The dealership’s representatives insist it bought the diesel vehicles from a Michigan supplier for $11,000 apiece, each car with a title it believed was legitimate.
While police recovered 20 cars, authorities still don’t know how they left the lot in the first place. There may even be more missing than the reported 69. Therefore, we urge all dealerships to look out for deals on Dieselgate buyback vehicles from Michigan, double-checking the VIN to see if the vehicle in question is, indeed, available for reselling after an EPA-approved retrofit. (Original article)
Malibu, CA — Reported 9.13.17
Con Man Counterfeits Checks to Buy Cars — and Post His Bail
On 4.24.14, a con man used fraudulent cashier’s checks and an assumed last name to steal a 2014 Toyota 4-Runner from a Thousand Oaks dealership, worth more than $41,000. Detectives tracked down his real identity, realizing he’d run the same con at other businesses and three more dealerships.
Eventually, police arrested the con man… who then posted his own bail using another fraudulent check.
He’s since been re-arrested, and remains in Ventura County on a $1.4 million bail. Anyone with information on the case should call Detective Paul Ferruzza at 805–494–8231. (Original article)
St. Clair, MO — 9.13.17
Man Runs “Like a Deer” After Driving Like Someone Who’s Stolen a Car to Escape Police
Police pursued a stolen Lexus last week after spotting it on a service road around 8 AM. During the chase, the driver flipped the car. He then fled the scene “like a deer” to escape capture, presumably after driving like a bat out of hell. Police arrested him later that afternoon.
There is no word on the condition of the stolen Lexus after recovery. (Original article)
Austin, TX — Reported 9.14.17
Police Search for Dealership Thief
Austin authorities search for a burglar who stole from a car dealership on 6.27.17, then tried to sell the “stolen property” somewhere else.
Police describe the thief as: “between 28 and 35 years old, around 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds.” If you know anything about this crime, please call the Austin police at 512–974–6941. (Original article)
Sienna Plantation, TX — Reported 9.14.17
Stolen Truck Returns to Texas — With Hurricane Harvey Supplies
In a marvelous moment that redeems hope in humanity during such a dark time, an Indiana dealership helped repair a stolen truck found in the area — and sent it home with supplies for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Back in April 2017, a Houston resident reported his truck stolen from the Texas Tech University campus. Then, this summer, it was found “torn up” and “very muddy” on the side of a road in Indiana.
The owner contacted Gene Lewis Ford in Lebanon, IN, to repair the vehicle before it came home. Just as repairs were completed, the hurricane hit the Houston area and most of Texas’s Gulf coast. Since the dealership was sending the truck back there, anyway, they decided to make the most of the shipment.
They collected bottled water, diapers, toiletries, gift cards, and other donations, sending them — and the newly repaired truck — to Houston. It arrived on 9.10.17, and the goods were distributed to local organizations and families who were grateful for the donations.
“Once again, thank you and Lebanon (Napa, Farmers Bank, Venis Trucking & Repair Stewart and all the good people of Lebanon Indiana) for all your generosity,” the truck owner wrote in an email. “Your donations are greatly appreciated.” (Original article)
Raynham, MA — 9.14.17
Dealership Unaware of Ex-Employee Car Theft Until Police Recovery
A Massachusetts dealership received a surprise call from a Rhode Island police department last Wednesday, reassuring employees that the missing car had been found. The dealership hadn’t even realized a car had been stolen.
Reviewing its security footage after the phone call, management saw a former employee drive the car on 9.6.17 in the afternoon. A current dealership employee told police that he “thought it was suspicious” to see the ex-employee at the dealership after his termination. (Original article)
Chicago, IL — 9.14.17
Top 5 Car Theft Hot Spots for 2017
Dealerships and rental lots are having a heck of a time this year protecting their lots from roving gangs of thieves who target cars’ electronic gadgetry, tires, and the vehicles themselves. Local news station reporters from the WGN Investigates group scoured the cases of reported vehicle theft for the first six months of this year, and listed the wards with the most car theft so far in 2017:
- 27th Ward at 231 cases of car theft
- 24th Ward at 219 cases of car theft
- 37th Ward at 202 cases of car theft
- 2nd Ward at 194 cases of car theft
- 8th Ward at 189 cases of car theft
While theft has overall decreased for the city as a whole this year from previous years, local governments are still acting to decrease the thefts even further. A new ordinance for Chicago-based dealerships requires facilities to keep keys in a safety box during night hours. Rental car lots are working with police to develop specialized “safety plans” for their inventory near the airports. (Original article)
Morton Grove, IL — Reported 9.15.17
Teen Smashes Car Windows With Pruning Sheers
On 8.31.17, police received word that a young man entered gas station at 3:17 AM to ask for a light, but then asked to “borrow” a set of pruning shears. The clerk saw him go across the street to a neighboring dealership and begin to damage lot vehicles, smashing car windows with the shears.
After reviewing the damage and the gas station’s security footage, the dealership decided to press charges. Police arrested the 19-year-old on charges of criminal damage to property, theft, and aggravated battery. We don’t know what provoked the vandal to destroy the cars, nor how much the damage will cost to repair. (Original article)
Elkhorn, WI — Reported 9.15.17
Another Key Swap Theft — This Time, Near Milwaukee
On 9.5.17, a couple visited an Elkhorn car dealership and browsed for a new car. After a salesperson let them hold a car key, they swapped it for a fake key fob. They then returned after 10 PM on 9.9.17 to steal the car — a 2006 black Mercedes Benz — by simply driving it off the lot.
Police still look for the thieves, so please call the office at 262–723–2210 if you have any information. (Original article)
Originally published at Eyewitness Surveillance.
