Burglars make off with vehicles valued at $1.2 million, including a scarce Dodge, employing a rock and laptop in the process.

One of the cars pilfered from an Alabama dealership was a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 valued at $160,000.

Eight vehicles, including a prized 2023 Dodge Challenger Demon SRT 170 worth $158,000, were taken from North County Ford dealership in Arab, Alabama. Investigations are ongoing, with two of the vehicles—a Jeep Wagoneer and a Ford Bronco Raptor—recovered so far. The Wagoneer was located near Blountsville, while the Bronco Raptor was found at an apartment complex in Bessemer, as reported by AL.com news.

Despite typically having stringent security measures in place, such as surveillance cameras, alarms, and individual vehicle alarms, car dealerships like North County Ford are not impervious to theft. In this case, the criminals initiated their scheme with a simple tool: a rock.

According to the report, the thieves struck at 12:28 am on April 9, using a rock to break a window in the service bay and gain entry to the main building. Once inside, they located the security camera hub, deactivated all cameras, and deleted several hours of footage.

The perpetrators then utilized a laptop to hack open the key safe, reminiscent of a scene from a 90s heist movie. They stole 330 keys from the safe, storing them in a bag. Given that many modern cars feature keyless entry and push-button start, the thieves easily accessed different vehicles with the key bag, started each car, and drove them off the lot.

The only tangible evidence left behind was broken glass from the window, discovered by the cleaning crew later that morning. North County Dodge is now faced with the laborious task of reprogramming replacements for all the stolen keys. They have taken to Facebook to implore the thieves for the keys' return, offering a $10,000 reward "no questions asked."

Local law enforcement, alongside the FBI, are actively investigating the incident and searching for the perpetrators, as well as the remaining six vehicles, including the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. Anyone with information relevant to the case is urged to contact Arab police at (256) 586-8124.

Source: Motortrend‍