- Suspect allegedly claimed he was a professional basketball player.
- Valets handed him a $90,000 BMW X5 after he produced its ticket.
- Police add that an Audi associated with him was stolen too.
Car thieves have plenty of sophisticated tools at their disposal these days, from relay attacks to reprogrammed key fobs. Apparently, you can also just tell someone you’re a professional basketball player and hope they hand you the keys. Police in Savannah, Georgia, are looking for a man accused of doing essentially that. Investigators say the suspect convinced hotel valet workers that he was a pro basketball player with several vehicles parked at the property. He then allegedly drove away in a gray 2026 BMW X5 worth around $90,000.
The incident happened at the Hyatt Regency Savannah shortly after midnight on August 14. According to police records obtained by WJCL, surveillance footage showed the man entering the hotel lobby before returning to a white Audi and collecting some belongings.
Read: A Stolen BMW M4 Fled Police At 130, Then Split In Half On A Sign Post
He then approached the valet stand with a ticket corresponding to the BMW. Workers told investigators that each valet ticket was unique to a specific vehicle. Evidently, the ticket and the suspect’s story were convincing enough because employees handed over the X5 and he drove away.
The BMW Wasn’t Even The First Stolen Car
The X5 didn’t actually belong to a wealthy hotel guest, either. It was owned by a dealership and was used as a loaner by a guest staying at the hotel. The dealer’s tracking system then located the SUV roughly 200 miles (322 km) away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where police were notified. It’s unclear whether the BMW has since been recovered, and things get stranger from there.
Investigators discovered that the white 2025 Audi A5 the suspect had been using was reportedly stolen as well. It was reported missing by another agency the previous day and was later found unlocked and apparently undamaged in the Hyatt’s parking garage.
Police also believe the same man could be connected to another Savannah valet theft earlier in August. In that case, a Toyota C-HR disappeared from another hotel after someone allegedly used the owner’s vehicle-retrieval code hours before she actually requested her car.
Savannah police have released surveillance images in hopes of identifying the suspect. Authorities haven’t explained how he obtained the BMW’s valet ticket, which may ultimately be the most important part of the trick. Whatever the answer, the case is a reminder that sometimes stealing a modern luxury SUV doesn’t require hacking its electronics or defeating its security system. According to police, this guy may have simply acquired the right piece of paper, told a good story, and asked for the keys.
