Dealer auto theft cases increased rapidly in a span of five months in the Chicago, Illinois area. In one month, thieves stole more than 80 luxury cars. ABC 7 reported the cars were part of a Chicago theft ring that included four different gangs from the south side.
At 12:15 a.m., local police in Evanston, Illinois, a northern Chicago suburb, responded to a reported disturbance in an alleyway. Nobody was at the location when responding officers arrived. They found a door at a Mazda dealership forced open. There was an unoccupied vehicle still running and a garage door open. The office where the car keys were stored was also forced open. Thieves broke a large display window to gain access into the service area.
A manager at the auto dealership said that four BMWs and a Porsche were stolen. Two of the stolen vehicles were found abandoned. Police were able to locate the third stolen car with the built-in GPS tracking device. The fourth luxury vehicle is still missing.
Investigators said the car dealership surveillance video showed at least six suspects involved in the car dealer auto thefts. Live video monitoring was not reported.
This isn’t the first case of dealer auto theft at this dealership. Thieves stole two running cars from the property driveway.
Another Chicago-area business was also a victim of dealer auto theft. Thieves broke into a service lane and stole four vehicles, most of which belonged to customers. Two of the cars were recovered. The next day, thieves walked into a Jaguar dealership, got inside two SUVs that were being detailed, and drove them off the lot.
Police hope the captured surveillance video will help identify the suspects. None of the luxury dealerships were Stealth Monitoring clients.
Deter Dealer Auto Theft With Live Remote Video Surveillance
Auto dealerships are susceptible to inventory theft, property damage and other risks. On-site security guards are an expensive option. Even the best security guard can only be in one place at a time. Live remote video monitoring can help protect dealer properties by simultaneously watching lots, showrooms, service lanes, repair bays and parts storage. We can even provide video footage to dispute customer claims of damage when cars are in for service.
