TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, along with law enforcement partners, announced the results of a large-scale investigation into a sophisticated vehicle theft ring involving the theft of nearly 50 vehicles.
The operation, which spanned multiple counties and involved advanced tactics, has led to the arrest of five non-U.S. citizens, with one suspect still at large.
Officials explained that the theft ring, active since at least June 2022, is responsible for stealing nearly 50 rental vehicles from various locations, including rental lots and airports.
“These are high-end vehicles—Escalades, Yukons, Suburbans—that were taken through a variety of increasingly sophisticated methods,” said Uthmeier.
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According to officials, the criminals employed multiple tactics. Initially, some operatives would simply rent a car at the airport, drive it out with heavy blankets covering the tire spikes, and abscond.
Later, the ring resorted to more advanced methods, including the use of cloned keys and tracking devices such as Apple AirTags.
When law enforcement began detecting these methods, the criminals reportedly switched to Samsung tags to avoid detection. The group even exploited car-sharing platforms like Turo to further mask their activities, ultimately retitling and selling the stolen vehicles through a network of local dealerships in Tampa and Miami.
In addition to the stolen vehicles, investigators have recovered cash totaling at least one million dollars. However, officials noted that they are still working to determine the final disposition of those funds. “There’s a lot of analytical work going on, and we’re reviewing bank records to see where all the money went,” said FDLE Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center Director Mark Brutnell.
The investigation, which was initiated after a routine traffic stop led to a deeper inquiry, highlights the extensive collaboration among Florida’s law enforcement agencies. “This is a textbook example of interagency cooperation,” said FDLE Commissioner Glass.
Officials also noted that the ring’s members are all non-U.S. citizens, a factor that underscores concerns about border enforcement.
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“These criminal alien ring members have taken advantage of lax enforcement policies, and we are committed to ensuring they are held accountable,” said Uthmeier.
Authorities are actively pursuing the one suspect still at large, Inti Alonso, urging anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
The Crime Ring
The investigation targeted a group of six individuals, all non-U.S. citizens, alleged to have stolen nearly 50 vehicles. Five of the individuals have been arrested, while one remains at large.
Methods of Operation
The alleged theft ring employed several methods, including:
- Brazen Theft: Stealing rental cars directly from rental car lots.
- Key Cloning and Tracking: Placing Apple AirTags on vehicles, returning them, and then stealing them later using cloned keys.
- Turo Rentals: Paying “runners” to rent cars through Turo, cloning the keys, switching to Samsung tags, and stealing the vehicles weeks later.
The stolen vehicles were primarily high-end SUVs, such as Escalades, Yukons, and Suburbans.
Re-VINing and Sales
The vehicles were then re-VINed, and clean titles were obtained through associates, including individuals at some dealerships in the Tampa area and in Miami. The stolen vehicles were sold for profit, with prices varying depending on whether they were sold “as is” (stolen), or with fraudulent VINs and clean titles.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation began in the Fort Myers area in 2022 and expanded to the Tampa area. It involved extensive collaboration between state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies, including FDLE, FHP, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and others.
Five individuals have been arrested, and authorities are actively searching for the sixth suspect, identified as Inti Alonso.
Impact and Warning
Authorities estimate that the theft ring generated upwards of a million dollars. They cautioned the public about purchasing vehicles under suspicious circumstances, such as in parking lots or for cash offers that seem too good to be true.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to pursue leads and investigate potential associates of the alleged theft ring.
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