- Nearly a dozen Stellantis vehicles were stolen from a Detroit lot.
- A broken fence was left behind after the 3 a.m. theft attempt.
- A stolen Durango got stuck in snow and was abandoned nearby.
Vehicle theft from major automaker lots has become an increasingly brazen affair in parts of Detroit, and this week’s incident near a major assembly plant only reinforces that reality. Almost a dozen vehicles at a Stellantis storage lot near its Detroit Assembly Complex Jefferson site were stolen earlier this week after a group of thieves crashed through a fence. According to locals, thefts like this are all too common.
Stellantis has confirmed that several Ram, Jeep, and Dodge models were taken from the lot at the corner of Conner Street and Mack Avenue at roughly 3 a.m. The storage facility is managed by a third party, and the fence was left broken after the thieves fled.
Read: Thieves Crash Into Dealership And Outrun Police In Stolen Hellcat
A full list of the stolen vehicles has not been released, but it is understood that all of the Dodges taken were new Durango models. Road & Track reports that one of the vehicles became stuck in deep snow and was abandoned at the scene, a slightly ironic footnote in what was otherwise a routine crime.
“Stellantis is working with the Detroit Police Department regarding the theft of several vehicles from a lot managed by a third party near the Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson,” the company said in a statement issued to CBS News. “As this is an open investigation, the Company is not providing any additional details on this incident.”
According to one resident, Nirmarjat Singh, “all over here is a bad area, man. They’re stealing all the time.” He added that “police have to do something about it, man.” Fellow resident Setrice Thurmon added, “they should have extra security the way things are around here.”
It remains unclear how the thieves accessed the vehicles and drove away, including whether they located wherever the keys were stored.
There is also the question of recovery. Unless the vehicles were equipped with GPS tracking systems, which seems unlikely for cars in storage, tracking them down could prove difficult. If they are not quickly shipped overseas, they may resurface locally, sold off and dismantled for parts.