Major US airport sees $5M worth of cars stolen by organized theft ring, report reveals.

A group of at least 14 individuals across the country are being charged with stealing over $4.9 million in vehicles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport between 2023 and November 2024, according to a search warrant obtained by local news.

According to the affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, officials stated that about 14 suspects have been identified and they are responsible for stealing approximately 52 cars from DFW, resulting in a total loss of $4.9 million.

DFW Airport has announced that its police have recently made significant arrests, disrupting organized crime rings and greatly reducing reported car thefts at the airport.

"In 2023, there were 142 vehicle thefts reported in the terminal areas at DFW. By November 2024, only 60 cars had been stolen, which is a 58% reduction year-over-year. A DFW Airport spokesperson stated that police are typically targeting high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs. Auto theft is a national issue that airports and other public facilities are facing, as extensively reported."

Despite the 3.4 million vehicles parked at DFW annually, the number of car thefts at the airport is low, according to a DFW spokesperson.

"Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and a 24-year Green Beret veteran and security expert, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that organized theft rings use tactics similar to transnational crime networks or terrorist cells. He explained that they target easy victims by exploiting weak security measures and predictable routines. To prevent becoming a soft target, travelers should take measures to secure their vehicles."

"Park in a well-lit spot, lock your doors, remove valuables or keep them out of sight, and make sure any alarm or tracking system is active." — Eric Brown

Allegedly, the ring has targeted airports in the West, including Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

According to NBC 5, the alleged ring leader Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 37, used "Autel devices," which are auto diagnostic tools, to reprogram key fobs and steal vehicles.

Autel tools are commonly used by organized theft rings to reprogram key fobs and bypass modern security systems, according to Gene Petrino, co-owner of Survival Response LLC and a retired SWAT commander. These theft rings often target vehicles based on their market demand or resale value, he added.

These tools, intended for legal locksmiths and mechanics, can be abused to imitate or reset car keys, according to Petrino.

In July, Hernandez-Frometa, along with two others, including 30-year-old Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian and 29-year-old Vainer Pinollotoro, were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, for charges related to possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing in a vehicle, failing to stop at the command of police, and possession of burglary tools.

At the Salt Lake City airport, three suspects were reportedly caught searching vehicles. When police tried to stop them, they escaped.

With the assistance of various law enforcement agencies, authorities eventually found and apprehended the suspects. During their search, they discovered one of the suspect's backpacks, which contained numerous blank car key fobs.

The police found keycards to a nearby motel and obtained a search warrant for the motel. With the help of the Salt Lake City Police Department's SWAT team, officers discovered more evidence of a coordinated stolen car operation, including a laptop, other hardware used to communicate electronic signals, and a device used to program key fobs inside the stolen car the suspects bailed from.

The three men had no connection to Salt Lake City, according to the police department.

No information is available on whether any of the 11 additional suspects involved in the theft ring have been arrested.

Brown explained how these groups typically divide tasks among different teams. One team is responsible for scouting parking lots and identifying high-value vehicles, while another handles fake paperwork and arranges storage or resale. This setup allows them to remain flexible and elusive.

Members of a theft ring have designated roles, including scouting, technical aspects of reprogramming, and transportation and resale of stolen vehicles, as Petrino stated.

Petrino stated that they operate in multiple jurisdictions, making them difficult to track and prosecute.

Law enforcement entities need to coordinate their efforts across state lines to track down suspects in organized theft rings, according to Petrino. Additionally, police departments may not have the resources to dedicate to complex, multi-state investigations if the thefts are part of a larger criminal enterprise, Petrino added.

To combat theft rings, local, state, and federal authorities need to work together, as Brown explained.

The collaboration between law enforcement agencies is crucial in disrupting the entire theft network. It requires persistent teamwork and resource sharing, but with determination, it can be achieved.

The FBI's Dallas Field Office is collaborating with DFW Airport Police in the investigation of a theft ring, according to the Bureau.