Car thefts are on the rise, leading some to resort to desperate measures. In Memphis, Tennessee, one dealership is going as far as offering a no-questions-asked cash reward for the safe return of its stolen property.
Not just any vehicles, the two cars in question are both seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvettes. City Auto of Memphis announced that it will offer $10,000 per vehicle for information that leads to the return of the Corvettes.
“It is with great frustration that as a private business, we must take this action to address the rampant crime happening across our community,” Stan Norton, City Auto’s president, told ABC24 News. “Thefts like this impact the livelihood and safety of our employees. We are asking for the community to stand up.”
Read: Thieves Break Into California Dealer, Steal Three Cars, Wait For Cops To Leave, Steal Another
The dealership says the cars were stolen on Monday, December 11, at around 6:00 p.m. It described the first car as a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible with Arctic White paint, a tan soft top, and a Kalahari Tan interior. The second is a 2015 Corvette Stingray coupe Z51, with Night Race Blue Metallic paint, and a Brownstone interior.
The dealership is asking anyone with information about the cars to all 901-377-9502, and to ask to speak to William Brigance, City Auto’s general manager.
City Auto of Memphis isn’t alone in losing vehicles. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that in the first half of 2023, nearly 500,000 vehicles were reported as stolen across the country. That’s nearly a record, and coincides with rising thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
According to NICB data, California, Texas, Florida, Washington, and Illinois were the states with the most reports of stolen vehicles. Interestingly, three of those states saw their numbers fall moderately. However, in Texas, thefts rose by 9 percent, and in Illinois, they rose by a staggering 38 percent in the first half of 2023.
