4 January 2025

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An organized theft ring with at least 14 members across the country has been accused 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.

“Approximately 14 suspects have been identified, and the suspects in this group stole approximately 52 vehicles from DFW, resulting in a total loss of $4.9 million,” officials said in the affidavit they obtained. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.

DFW Airport told Fox News Digital in a statement, “Airport Police recently made significant arrests that were disrupted Organized crime rings “It has significantly reduced reported auto thefts in DFW.”

“In 2023, 142 vehicle thefts were reported in DFW Airport's terminal areas. As of November 2024, only 60 vehicles were reported stolen, an approximately 58% decrease year over year,” a DFW Airport spokesperson said. In a statement. “Police generally see thieves targeting luxury sports cars and luxury SUVs. As has been widely reported, car theft is an unfortunate national issue faced by 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, December 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen 40 million travelers this holiday season.

Travelers wait to go through security at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S., Monday, December 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million travelers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

The DFW spokesperson added that the number of vehicle thefts over the past year at DFW Airport is low compared to the 3.4 million vehicles parked at the airport each year.

“Since I was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, I have seen organized robbery rings use many of the same methods as transnational crime networks or terrorist cells,” Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and a 24-year veteran, said. Green Perrette and Fox News Digital security expert. “They are looking for easy targets, focusing on poor security measures and predictable routines. The key for travelers is to avoid making your car an easy target.”

“Park your car in a well-lit area, lock your doors, remove valuables or keep them out of sight, and make sure any alarm or tracking system is activated.”

– Eric Brown

The ring was allegedly targeted Airports all over the Westincluding Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

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A traveler carries a cat into a carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

A traveler carries a cat into a carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. (Ilya Novellaj/Bloomberg)

Alleged ringleader Yoel Hernandez Frometa, 37, used “Autel devices,” which are automatic diagnostic tools, “to reprogram master keys so he could steal vehicles,” the affidavit said, according to NBC 5.

Gene Petrino, co-owner of Survival Response LLC and a retired SWAT commander, told Fox News Digital that it's common for organized robbery gangs to use Autel tools to “reprogram master keys and bypass modern security systems.” He added that they often target “vehicles based on market demand or resale value.”

“These devices, designed for legitimate locksmiths and mechanics, can be misused to imitate or reset car keys,” Petrino said.

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Hernandez-Frumeta and two others, including 30-year-old Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian and 29-year-old Viner Pinolotoro, were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing in a stolen vehicle. vehicle, failure to stop at police command, and possession of burglary tools.

The three suspects were allegedly caught looking at vehicles at the Salt Lake City Airport, and when police arrested them and attempted to stop traffic, they fled.

Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States, on Monday, December 23, 2024.

Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, U.S., Monday, December 23, 2024. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen 40 million travelers this holiday season. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

Ultimately, authorities located and detained the suspects with the assistance of multiple law enforcement departments. During the investigation, they found one of the suspect's backpacks, which was “full of empty car key chains.”

Officers also found key cards for a nearby hotel and obtained a search warrant for the hotel. With the help of Salt Lake City Police Department As the SWAT team cleared the suspects' room, officers found “more evidence of a coordinated operation on a stolen vehicle,” including “a laptop computer, other devices used to communicate electronic signals, and a device used to program keys inside the stolen vehicle that the suspects had bailed on.” . “, police said at the time.

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The Salt Lake City Police Department indicated that the three men had no ties to the city.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 9, 2024: An Iberia Airlines plane flies over the Los Angeles International Airport parking lot, against a clear blue sky on a sunny day.

An Iberia Airlines plane flies over the parking lot of Los Angeles International Airport. (Istock)

It is unclear whether any of the additional 11 suspects involved in the robbery ring have been arrested.

“These groups often divide tasks between different teams. One crew member scouts parking lots, notices high-value vehicles and passes that information on to the thieves. A separate group handles counterfeit papers and arranges storage or resale. This setup keeps them flexible and difficult to track,” she said. Brown explained.

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Likewise, members of the theft ring “have specific roles: some handle scouting, others manage the technical aspects of reprogramming, and others handle transport and resale of stolen vehicles,” Petrino said.

They also operate “in multiple jurisdictions, which makes them more difficult to track and prosecute,” Petrino explained.

California parking lot

An aerial view of vehicles in a parking lot on August 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via)

He added that since these organized robbery gangs operate across state borders, there is a need for expert coordination among law enforcement agencies to trace the suspects. Moreover, police departments “often lack the resources to devote to complex, multi-state investigations, especially if the thefts are part of a larger criminal enterprise,” Petrino said.

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Brown similarly explained that to combat these theft rings, as well as target larger threats, local, state and federal authorities need to combine their efforts.

“This cooperation helps tie all the pieces together and disrupt the entire theft network,” the former Green Beret said. “It's not an easy task, but with continued teamwork and sharing of resources, law enforcement can weaken these gangs and protect travelers.”

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 office told Fox News Digital.

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