WPBN: According to a search warrant that was received by local news, an organized theft ring that consists of at least 14 people around the country is suspected of stealing automobiles worth about $5 million from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport between the years 2023 and November 2024.
Officials said in the affidavit that, “Approximately 14 suspects have been identified…the suspects in this group have stolen approximately 52 cars from DFW, for a total loss of $4.9 million.”
According to a statement released by the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, “airport police have recently made significant arrests that have disrupted organized crime rings and greatly reduced reported car thefts at DFW.”
“In 2023 there were a total of 142 vehicle thefts reported in the terminal areas at DFW. Through November 2024 there were only 60 cars reported stolen, which is a reduction of nearly 58% year-over-year,” according to a DFW Airport spokesperson’s statement. “Police are generally seeing thieves target high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs. As has been reported extensively, auto theft is an unfortunate national issue that airports and other public facilities across the country are confronting.”
According to the spokesman for DFW, the number of auto thefts that occurred at DFW over the course of the previous year was rather modest when compared to the 3.4 million vehicles that are parked at the airport on an annual basis.
Eric Brown, the founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting and a 24-year veteran of the Green Beret and security specialist, told, “I’ve seen from my time as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret that organized theft rings use many of the same tactics as transnational crime networks or terrorist cells. They look for easy targets, focusing on weak security measures and predictable routines. The key for travelers is to avoid making your vehicle a soft target.”
According to reports, the network has targeted airports in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada, among other Western states.
“Autel devices,” which are auto diagnostic equipment, were used by alleged ring leader Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 37, “to reprogram key fobs so he can steal vehicles,” according to the affidavit.
According to Gene Petrino, a retired SWAT commander and co-owner of Survival Response LLC, Autel tools are frequently used by organized crime groups “to reprogram key fobs and bypass modern security systems,” as reported.”They often target vehicles based on their market demand or resale value,” he continued.
“These devices, designed for legitimate locksmiths and mechanics, can be misused to mimic or reset vehicle keys,” Petrino stated.
Hernandez-Frometa was arrested in July in Salt Lake City, Utah, along with two other people, Jose Alejandro Pavon-Estopian, 30, and Vainer Pinollotoro, 29. They were charged with possessing burglary tools, fleeing in a vehicle, failing to stop at police orders, and possessing a stolen vehicle.
The three suspects allegedly fled when police caught up with them and tried to perform a traffic stop after they were seen examining cars at the Salt Lake City airport.
With the assistance of several law enforcement units, authorities were able to track down and apprehend the offenders. When they found one of the suspect’s backpacks during their investigation, it was “full of blank car key fobs.”
Additionally, officers acquired a search warrant for a nearby motel after discovering keycards to the establishment.
According to police at the time, officers “found 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,” after clearing the suspects’ room with the assistance of the SWAT team of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
The three males had no connection to the city, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Major Drug Bust: Northwest Virginia Task Force Confiscates $10 Million Worth of Drugs in 2024
There are 11 more suspects in the theft ring, but it’s unknown if any of them have been taken into custody.
“These groups often divide tasks among different teams. One crew scouts parking lots, noting high-value vehicles and passing that intel to the thieves. A separate group handles fake paperwork and arranges storage or resale. This setup keeps them flexible and difficult to track,” Brown stated.
Members of a theft ring, according to Petrino, “have specific roles: some handle scouting, others manage the technical aspects of reprogramming, and others handle transportation and resale of stolen vehicles.”
FBI Seizes 150 Pipe Bombs in Virginia, Possibly Largest-Ever Explosive Device Bust
According to Petrino, they also operate “in multiple jurisdictions,” which makes it more difficult to find and prosecute them.
He noted that in order to find criminals, law enforcement agencies must coordinate expertly because these organized theft rings work across state lines. Moreover, Petrino stated that police agencies “frequently lack the resources to dedicate to complex, multi-state investigations, especially if the thefts are part of a larger criminal enterprise.”
Similar to focusing on larger dangers, Brown highlighted that local, state, and federal officials must work together to tackle these theft rings.
