Local and state police, in addition to the FBI, are involved in investigating a series of auto thefts that have plagued the United States’ East Coast. Operating from New York to Florida, the interconnected series of groups are responsible for millions of dollars in stolen vehicles.
Police say that one of the big breaks in their case followed a robbery in Lillington, North Carolina. There, the Hiester Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership was hit in December 2022, losing an estimated $700,000 worth of vehicles in a single event.
In that case, the theft occurred late at night, when a group of people dressed in dark clothing, broke into the dealership, and made off with 12 vehicles including, ironically enough, a 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak edition.
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That was one of two vehicles (the other being a Ram 1500 TRX) that were found outside a vacant home in the area following the theft. Fox8 reports that those vehicles were the break police needed to uncover what they claim were several connected organized crime rings.
“We were able to follow up on some leads and ended up tracking them back to Charlotte,” said Sgt. Stephen Gardner of the Lillington Police Department. “It turned out to be six or seven different rings responsible for a lot of auto thefts that’s all over the East Coast.”
So far, 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with these crimes and are facing multiple charges. Police say that this remains an active investigation and more suspects are being sought.
Through interviews and phone records, police discovered how the thieves chose dealerships to hit. Turns out, they shopped just like most car buyers do these days: online. They used dealer websites to determine which ones had vehicles worth stealing.
While that’s frustrating for people like John Hiester, the Lillington dealership’s owner, he also saw it as an opportunity. And local TV viewers may know why. Using surveillance footage from the crime, Hiester says, “People ask me every day why did a criminal group from Charlotte come to Lillington to steal cars?” and answers that by saying that his dealership had the largest selection of vehicles the thieves were looking for.
“When you are given lemons,” he said, “make lemonade.”