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An organized theft ring with at least 14 members across the country is accused of stealing nearly $5 million worth of cars from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport between 2023 and 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 in DFW, causing a total loss of $4.9 million,” according to an affidavit obtained by officials. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
DFW Airport told Fox News Digital in a statement that “Airport Police recently made significant arrests that thwarted organized criminal groups and a significant reduction in car thefts in DFW.”
“In 2023, a total of 142 vehicle thefts were reported in the DFW terminal areas. Only 60 car thefts were reported through November 2024, a reduction of nearly 58% compared to the same period last year,” said a DFW Airport spokesperson. in the statement. “Police typically see thieves targeting high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs. As has been widely reported, auto 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) in San Francisco, California, U.S., 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 at DFW over the past year is small compared to the 3.4 million cars parked at the airport each year, the DFW spokesman added.
“From my time as a US Army Special Forces Green Beret, I have seen organized theft groups use many of the same tactics as transnational criminal networks or terrorist cells,” Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and 24- longtime Green Beret veteran and security expert, told Fox News Digital. “They look for easy targets, focusing on lax security measures and predictable procedures. The key for travelers is not to make their car an easy target.”
“Park in a well-lit area, lock your doors, put valuables away or keep them out of sight and make sure any alarms or tracking systems are active.”
The ring is allegedly targeted airports 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) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg)
Alleged ringleader Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 37, used “Autel devices,” which are auto-diagnostic tools, “to reprogram the fobs so he could steal vehicles,” according to the affidavit, NBC 5 reported.
Gene Petrino, co-owner of Survival Response LLC and a retired SWAT commander, told Fox News Digital that organized theft groups often use Autel tools “to reprogram fobs and bypass modern security systems.” They often target “vehicles based on their market demand or resale value,” he added.
“These devices, intended for legitimate locksmiths and mechanics, can be misused to impersonate or reset car keys,” Petrino said.
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Hernandez-Frameta and two others, including Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian, 30, and Weiner Pinolataro, 29, were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle while fleeing vehicle, failed to stop at police command and possession of burglary tools.
The three suspects were allegedly caught inspecting vehicles at the Salt Lake City airport, and when police caught up with them and attempted a traffic stop, they fled.
Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States, on Monday, December 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million passengers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
Authorities eventually located and apprehended the suspects with the help of several law enforcement units. During the investigation, they discovered one of the suspect’s backpacks, which was “full of empty car key fobs.”
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 SWAT cleared the suspect’s room, officers “found additional 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 in the stolen vehicle the suspects escaped from.” , – the police said then.
The Salt Lake City Police Department said the three men had no ties to the city.
An Iberia Airlines plane hovers over a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport. (iStock)
It is not yet clear if another of the 11 suspects involved in the crime ring has been arrested.
“These groups often distribute tasks between different teams. One crew scours parking lots, flagging expensive vehicles and relaying that information to thieves. A separate group processes the forged documents and arranges for storage or resale. This setup makes them flexible and difficult to track. “, Brown explained.
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Petrino also said that the members of the theft team “perform specific roles: some are engaged in intelligence, others manage the technical aspects of reprogramming, and still others are involved in the transportation and resale of stolen vehicles.”
They also operate “in multiple jurisdictions,” Petrino explained, “which makes them more difficult to track and prosecute.”
Aerial view of vehicles in the parking lot on August 26, 2022. in Los Angeles, California. (Tian Weizhong/VCG via)
Because these organized theft rings operate across state borders, expert coordination among law enforcement agencies is needed to track down the suspects, he added. In addition, police departments “often lack the resources to conduct complex multi-state investigations, especially when the thefts are part of a larger criminal enterprise,” Petrino said.
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Brown also explained that local, state and federal authorities must join forces to combat these theft groups, for example, to combat larger threats.
“This collaboration helps tie all the pieces together and disrupt the entire network of theft. It’s not an easy task, but with persistent teamwork and pooling of resources, law enforcement can weaken these rings and protect travelers,” said the former Green Beret.
The case is under investigation. FBI Dallas Field Office is aware of the theft ring and is assisting DFW Airport Police in their investigation, the Bureau told Fox News Digital.
