Dallas-Fort Worth auto-theft ring hacked late model vehicles’ computers to start them
Suspects involved in a Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area auto-theft ring hacked vehicles’ computers to start the cars they drove away in, law enforcement authorities said.
After modifying the vehicles, they were sold at used-car dealers, the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force said.
The investigation began in February when, after recovering a stolen car, a task force investigator noticed something unusual about the vehicle. The victim’s keys would not work. After researching the vehicle in databases it became clear that the vehicle had been altered, according to Bryan Sudan, the task force’s commander.
With the help of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the task force said it found about 60 late-model vehicles valued at $1.2 million.
Three locations were identified as being involved in the theft scheme. A group of 45 investigators served search warrants at the same time on June 3.
Gustavo Torres, 33, of Garland, was charged with theft of property valued at $30,000 to $150,000.
Nine stolen vehicles valued at $237,125 were recovered, the task force said.
The vehicles were stolen from licensed used-car dealers in five cities. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles investigators opened cases against the dealers.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 6:20 PM.
