A well-structured theft operation involving a minimum of 14 members across the country is alleged to have stolen vehicles worth close to $5 million from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport between 2023 and November 2024. This information was revealed in a search warrant accessed by a local news outlet.
According to the affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, officials stated, “Approximately 14 suspects have been identified… the suspects in this group have stolen approximately 52 cars from DFW, for a total loss of $4.9 million.”
In response to these events, the DFW Airport informed Fox News Digital that “airport police have recently made notable arrests that have disrupted organized crime rings and significantly decreased the number of reported car thefts at DFW.”
“In 2023 there were a total of 142 vehicle thefts reported in the terminal areas at DFW. Through November 2024 there were only 60 cars reported stolen, which is a reduction of nearly 58% year-over-year,” a DFW Airport spokesperson said in a statement. “Police are generally seeing thieves target high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs. As has been reported extensively, auto theft is an unfortunate national issue that airports and other public facilities across the country are confronting.”
Petrino similarly said members of a theft ring “have specific roles: some handle scouting, others manage the technical aspects of reprogramming, and others handle transportation and resale of stolen vehicles.”
They also operate “in multiple jurisdictions,” Petrino explained, “making them harder to track and prosecute.”
Aerial view of vehicles at a parking lot on Aug. 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. ( Qian Weizhong/VCG via)
Because these organized theft rings operate across state lines, expert coordination is needed among law enforcement entities to track down suspects, he added. On top of that, police departments “often lack the resources to dedicate to complex, multi-state investigations, especially if the thefts are part of a larger criminal enterprise,” Petrino said.
Brown similarly explained that to combat these theft rings, like targeting bigger threats, local, state and federal authorities need to join forces.
“This collaboration helps tie all the pieces together and disrupt the entire theft network. It’s not an easy task, but with persistent teamwork and resource sharing, law enforcement can weaken these rings and protect travelers,” the former Green Beret said.
The case is 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.
