NYPD: Fearless Thieves Stopping At Nothing To Steal Your Luxury Cars
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Drivers, heed this warning: There are people out there who want your cars.
As CBS 2's Jessica Schneider found out Wednesday night, there's a new string of violent, armed thieves on the roads. They are targeting your luxury vehicles and will use any means they deem necessary to get what they want.
On Wednesday night, Mike Tewfick finally had his 2013 Acura back after a wild ride through Staten Island.
"I told you I was chasing him. He was driving like a maniac," Tewfick said.
Tewfick said he was filling up at a Sunoco gas station and left the car running. A guy jumped in the driver's seat and took off.
"They were like, 'somebody just jumped in your car!' So I run to my car and the next thing I know he peels out," Tewfick said.
He said he jumped into his friend's car, but they lost the carjacker a few minutes later. His iPhone, however, was still inside his vehicle so he tracked it to Newark, where police found it a few days later.
"Newark police said if you don't find it soon … you know what they do with these cars; they don't bring them to chop shops no more; they put them in containers and that's it, they're gone. Yeah they take them overseas. Yeah, I got scared. I thought my car is gone," Tewfick said.
The NYPD said it's happened seven times in the past month -- carjackers targeting high-end cars like: BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover/Range Rover, Lexus, Honda and Acura.
The thieves have many methods, including taking cars from gas stations and even rear-ending unsuspecting victims who get out to check their cars only to have them stolen right in front of them, police said.
Undercover cops have been staking out certain gas stations, trying to catch the crooks in the act.
"You come, you fill up the gas, you feel safe. You wouldn't expect anyone to come and take your car. They say this is happening all over the place. I'd advise everyone to turn car off and keep keys in pocket," Staten Island resident Faisal Zahroof said.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
