A trio of thieves made off with a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, a GMC Sierra, and a GMC Yukon directly from a dealership in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
However, their escapade quickly hit a snag. None of the culprits knew how to raise the convertible top on the sports car, leaving one of them exposed to freezing temperatures during their getaway.
The theft of these three high-value vehicles, collectively worth over $300,000, occurred under the cover of night at the dealership. The thieves displayed familiarity with the premises, swiftly locating the keys and license plates for the vehicles.
Security footage captured the perpetrators navigating various sections of the dealership before discreetly driving the 2024 Cherry Red Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible out of the showroom. Their haul also included a 2024 GMC Sierra HD 2500 Denali and a 2022 GMC Yukon.
The ease with which the thieves accessed the dealership is concerning. Jeff Renfro of the Lawrenceburg Police Department noted that they broke into the service lane window, gaining entry to the office where the keys were stored, although their precise knowledge of the layout remains a mystery.
The thieves departed around 03:05 in the morning, each driving a stolen vehicle. However, their journey was short-lived, as they stopped at a gas station twenty minutes later to refuel.
Notably, the Corvette driver, attempting to conceal their identity, left the convertible top down despite freezing temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius).
Despite initial tracking efforts aided by the OnStar system, the thieves managed to evade capture by disabling the tracking system. While the Yukon was eventually recovered in Birmingham, Alabama, the Corvette and Sierra remain missing, along with the perpetrators.
This incident underscores the importance of robust security measures at car dealerships to prevent such brazen thefts. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating auto theft.