An organized theft ring with at least 14 members across the country is suspected of stealing nearly $5 million worth of vehicles from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport between 2023 and November 2024, according to a search warrant obtained by local news outlets.
“Approximately 14 suspects have been identified…the suspects in this group stole approximately 52 vehicles from DFW, for a total loss of $4.9 million,” officials said in an affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
DFW Airport told Fox News Digital in a statement that “airport police recently made arrests that disrupted organized crime groups and significantly reduced reported vehicle thefts at DFW.”
“In 2023 there were a total of 142 vehicle thefts reported from fatal locations at DFW. In November 2024, only 60 vehicles were reported stolen, which is a 58% year-over-year decrease,” said a DFW Airport spokesperson. in the statement. “Police typically see thieves targeting high-end cars and luxury SUVs. As has been widely reported, car theft is a sad statewide issue affecting airports and other public facilities across the country.”
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Travelers wait for security at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, US, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million passengers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg)
The number of car thefts last year at DFW is low compared to the 3.4 million cars parked at the airport each year, said a DFW spokesperson.
“Since my time as a US Army Special Forces Green Beret, I have seen that organized crime rings use the same tactics as international criminal networks or terrorist cells,” said Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and 24 years old. A veteran Green Beret and security expert, he told Fox News Digital. “They look for easy targets, focusing on weak security mechanisms and predictable processes. The key for travelers is to avoid making your car a soft target.”
“Park in a well-lit area, close your doors, remove valuables or keep them out of sight, and make sure any alarm or tracking system is working.”
The ring allegedly targeted airports in the West, including 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) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg)
Alleged ring leader Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 37, used “Autel devices,” which are automated diagnostic tools, “to reprogram key fobs to steal cars,” the affidavit said, according to NBC 5.
Gene Petrino, owner of Survival Response LLC and a retired SWAT commander, told Fox News Digital that it’s common for organized theft rings to use Autel tools to “reprogram key fobs and bypass modern security systems.” They often target “vehicles based on their market demand or resale value,” he added.
“These tools, designed for professional locksmiths and mechanics, can be misused to imitate or reset car keys,” Petrino said.
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Hernandez-Frometa and two others, including 30-year-old Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian and 29-year-old Vainer Pinollotoro, were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing in the vehicle. vehicle, failed to stop at police command, and possession of burglary tools.
The three suspects were allegedly caught looking at cars at the Salt Lake City airport, and when the police caught them trying to stop the cars, they ran away.
Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, US, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million passengers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg)
The authorities finally found them and arrested the suspects with the help of many law enforcement agencies. While investigating, they found another backpack of the suspect, “which was full of empty car keys.”
Police also found key cards for a nearby motel and obtained a search warrant for the motel. With the help of the SWAT team of the Salt Lake City Police Department to clear the room of the suspects, the police “found additional evidence of the operation of the stolen vehicles systematically,” including “a laptop, other hardware used to communicate with electronic signals, and a machine used to program the key. shovels inside of the stolen car in which the suspects got bail,” the police said at the time.
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The Salt Lake City Police Department noted that the three men had no ties to the city.
An Iberia Airlines plane flies over the parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport. (Stock)
It is not yet clear if there are any additional suspects among the 11 arrested who were involved in the theft ring.
“These groups often divide the tasks between different groups. One group checks parking spaces, recognizes high-value vehicles and passes that information on to thieves. Another group handles counterfeit documents and arranges for storage or resale. This set-up keeps them flexible and difficult to track. ,” he explained. Brown.
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Petrino similarly said that the members of the theft ring “have specific tasks: some manage the inspection, some manage the technical aspects of the restructuring, and some manage the transportation and resale of stolen vehicles.”
They also operate “in multiple locations,” Petrino explained, “making them difficult to track and prosecute.”
Aerial view of cars in parking lot on Aug. 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via)
Because these organized crime rings operate in all regions of the state, professional coordination is needed between law enforcement agencies to track down the suspects, he added. In addition, police departments “often lack the resources to devote to complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations, especially when the theft is part of a larger criminal enterprise,” Petrino said.
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Brown similarly explained that in order to fight these theft rings, as well as identify the biggest threats, local, state and regional authorities need to join forces.
“This cooperation helps to put all the pieces together and disrupt the entire theft network. It is not an easy task, but with continuous cooperation and sharing of resources, law enforcement can weaken these rings and protect travelers,” said the former Green Beret.
The case is still under investigation. The FBI’s Dallas Field Office is aware of the theft ring and is assisting DFW Airport Police with their investigation, the bureau told Fox News Digital.
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