Car Thieves Leave Detailed Video Record of Theft at Benton Dealership
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Updated: January 25, 2013
That dealership's owner is hoping the detailed footage from numerous security cameras will help police catch the criminals.
"They didn't hurt anybody, which is our main concern, it still makes you feel violated that these people can be so bold, so brash, that they'll come and do this," said Dennis Clay, co-owner of Car World.
Four men showed up late Tuesday afternoon acting as though they were interesting in buying a 2004 black Z-71 Chevy Tahoe.
The salesman who met them face-to-face in the lot said he felt extremely uneasy when the they got too close, trying to surround him and invade his personal space.
"I never felt like that in my life...a very bad vibe, not good at all. Scary," said the salesman, who did not want to be identified.
The men quickly left when the salesman and Clay offered to do a credit check to see is they were eligible to finance the vehicle.
The dealership's security camera footage shows two men returning under the cover of darkness in a gray PT Cruiser early Wednesday morning. One man placed a license plate on the black Tahoe, got into the vehicle and took off.
On Thursday morning, again under the cover of darkness, the men showed up again in a gray PT Cruiser. This time they cut a padlock on the dealership's back fence and stole a gold 2004 Chevy Tahoe.
Footage shows one of them inside the car using a flashlight to help him see what he was doing.
Clay speculates the man was hot wiring the vehicle ignition. Video footage shows he tries twice to start the vehicle and fails. On the third attempt he succeeds and takes off in the Tahoe.
Clay is hoping the extensive video footage will help police catch the thieves.
He has put up $5,000 in cash of his own money as a reward.







