VIDEO: Thieves quickly steal BMWs, Maserati from east Charlotte dealership

CHARLOTTE — A group of thieves is accused of targeting an east Charlotte dealership and stealing multiple luxury cars. Now, investigators are trying to figure out if the case could be connected to similar thefts across North Carolina.

The theft happened just over a week ago at the Adams Auto Group along Independence Boulevard. Channel 9’s crime reporter Hunter Sáenz obtained video that shows the thieves’ quick work.

First, they break into the front of the dealership. Police said they used cinder blocks to shatter the glass.

Then, you can see the thieves go back to a desk, search behind it, and find a treasure trove of keys. They then try the keys, which light up the cars right in front of them.

Within seconds, they hop into the cars and drive through the front of the store to get out.

It was an expensive heist. According to a police report, the suspects stole three BMWs and a Maserati -- all of them totaling more than $310,000.

The lead detective on the case, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Det. Calvin Helms, spoke to Sáenz about the case. He said two of the four cars stolen from the showroom have already been found. One was abandoned off Interstate 277 and the other was found in Greensboro, making detectives wonder if this was part of a more organized crime ring.

Helms said when the thieves entered the dealership, they appeared to know exactly where to go in order to get the keys. He also said the suspects driving through the front of the store to leave was a little unusual.

“You would think they’d want to get these high-end cars undamaged, but who knows what they’re going to do with them afterwards,” he said.

Det. Helms said CMPD is seeing an uptick in dealerships being targeted. He’s working with other agencies to see if there’s a connection.

Channel 9 learned a Randy Marion dealership in Mooresville was recently hit by thieves. A worker there said five Corvettes were stolen.

And in mid-February, video from a BMW dealership in Asheville shows seven cars being stolen right from the lot.

In the east Charlotte case, police would like to talk to a man wearing a white shirt who was seen with a sales associate. Investigators said he was the last person to test drive one of the stolen cars -- a car the thieves already had a fob to before they broke in.

“There was a key fob swap by somebody maybe test driving, or had been there before,” Helms said.

CMPD hopes someone will recognize the people in the videos and give them a call. Anyone with information can call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

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