Big Car Heist at DFW: $5M Worth of Vehicles Stolen

On November 13, 2024, a court document in Texas revealed that a Houston-based crime group has been accused of stealing vehicles worth over $5 million from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). They're suspected of targeting parking lots not only at DFW but also at several other airports across the country, including those in Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. Investigators believe the group uses high-tech devices to reprogram key fobs and drives the stolen cars into Mexico. Here, they change the vehicle IDs and resell them. Texas detectives have been investigating this group since February 2023 and have identified 14 suspects, with three already in custody. The group seems to focus on luxury SUVs and sedans. In total, they're accused of 52 car thefts, valued at over $5 million, or about $100, 000 per vehicle. Airport officials are understandably concerned, given how frequently this type of crime occurs. A DFW Airport spokesperson stated that the airport's police work closely with local, state, and federal authorities to disrupt such crime rings. They've even managed to reduce car thefts from terminal parking lots by over 40% this year. However, some organized groups still manage to evade security measures. Airport garages have long been targeted for car thefts. People often forget to lock their cars or take their keys with them when they're in a rush. Sometimes, the theft isn't discovered until months later, making it hard to trace the stolen vehicle. Recently, on October 22, a woman's car was stolen from the parking lot at John Glenn Columbus International Airport.