Holiday travel alert: $5 million worth of cars stolen from airport, report says
An organized theft ring with at least 14 members across the country is accused of stealing cars worth nearly $5 million. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport 2023 to November 2024, according to a search warrant obtained by local news.
“Approximately 14 suspects have been identified … the suspects in this group stole approximately 52 vehicles from DFW, resulting in a total of $4.9 million in damages.” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
DFW Airport told Fox News Digital in a statement, “Airport police have recently made significant arrests, which has led to the suspension. organized crime networks and greatly reduced reported auto thefts in DFW.”
“In 2023, a total of 142 vehicle thefts were reported in DFW’s terminal areas. Through November 2024, a total of 60 vehicles were reported stolen, representing a year-over-year decrease of approximately 58%,” said a DFW Airport spokesperson. in his statement. “Police generally see thieves targeting high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs. As is widely reported, car theft is an unfortunate national problem facing airports and other public facilities across the country.”
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Travelers wait to go through security at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Monday, December 23, 2024, in San Francisco, California, United States. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million passengers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
A DFW spokesperson added that the number of car thefts at DFW in the past year is low compared to the 3.4 million cars parked at the airport each year.
“From my time as a Green Beret in the US Army Special Forces, I have seen organized crime groups use the same tactics as transnational criminal networks or terrorist groups,” said Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and a 24-year Green Beret veteran. and security expert, told Fox News Digital. “They look for easy targets, focusing on lax safety measures and predictable rules. The key for travelers is to avoid making your car a soft target.”
“Park the car in a well-lit area, lock your doors, remove valuables or keep them out of sight and make sure any alarms or tracking systems are activated.”
It is alleged that he targeted the ring Airports in the WestIncluding Texas, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada.
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A traveler holds a cat in a carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg)
According to NBC 5, ring leader Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 37, used “Autel devices,” which are auto diagnostic tools, “to reprogram key fobs so he could steal cars.”
Gene Petrino, co-owner of Survival Response LLC and a retired SWAT commander, told Fox News Digital that it is common for organized theft rings to use Autel tools “to reprogram key fobs and bypass modern security systems.” They often target “vehicles based on market demand or resale value.”
“Intended for legitimate locksmiths and mechanics, these devices can be misused to mimic or reset car keys,” Petrino said.
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Hernandez-Frometa and two others, including Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian, 30, and Vainer Pinollotoro, 29, were arrested in July in Salt Lake City, Utah, on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing in a vehicle. failure to stop at police command and possession of burglary tools.
The three suspects were allegedly caught looking at vehicles at the Salt Lake City airport and fled when police caught up with them and attempted a traffic stop.
Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Monday, December 23, 2024, in San Francisco, California, USA. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million passengers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
Eventually, authorities, with the help of multiple law enforcement units, located and detained the suspects. During the investigation, they found one of the suspect’s backpacks “filled with loose car keys.”
Officers also found key cards to a nearby motel and obtained a search warrant for the motel. with the help of Salt Lake City Police Department A SWAT team clearing the suspects’ room said officers “found more evidence of a coordinated stolen car operation,” including “a laptop computer, other equipment used to transmit electronic signals, and a device used to program key fobs inside the stolen car the suspects had taken hostage.” police said at the time.
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The Salt Lake City Police Department said the three men have no ties to the city.
An Iberia Airlines plane flew over the parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport. (iStock)
It is unclear if any of the additional 11 suspects involved in the robbery have been arrested.
“These groups often divide tasks between different teams. One crew scouts parking lots, records high-value cars and passes that information on to thieves. A separate group deals with counterfeit documents and arranges for storage or resale. This setup keeps them flexible. and it’s hard to follow,” Brown explained.
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Petrino similarly said that the members of the theft ring “have specific roles: some do intelligence, others manage the technical aspects of reprogramming, and others deal with the transportation and resale of stolen cars.”
They operate in “multiple jurisdictions,” Petrino explained, “making them difficult to track and prosecute.”
Aerial view of vehicles in a parking lot on August 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (via Qian Weizhong/VCG)
Because these organized theft rings operate across state lines, expert coordination among law enforcement agencies is needed to track down the suspects, he added. In addition, police departments “often lack the resources to devote to complex, multi-state investigations, especially if the burglaries are part of a larger criminal enterprise,” Petrino said.
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Brown similarly explained that fighting these theft rings requires local, state and federal agencies to join forces, for example, to target larger threats.
“This collaboration helps tie all the pieces together and disrupt the entire theft network. It’s not an easy task, but with continued teamwork and resource sharing, law enforcement can weaken these links and protect travelers,” said the former Green Beret.
The fact is being investigated. Dallas Field Office of the FBI The bureau told Fox News Digital that it is aware of the theft ring and is assisting DFW Airport Police in their investigation.
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