Zac Quinn 
A wave of thefts have hit Stellantis-operated storage lots in and around Detroit, Michigan. Local news channel WDIV Local 4 has reported that over half a dozen new cars and trucks have been stolen from various storage lots since the beginning of 2022. All vehicles are high-end models such as the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and the (since discontinued) Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
Ram, Jeep And Dodge Vehicles Remain Popular For Thieves
According to Autoblog, on March 10, five Ram trucks were taken from a secured facility in Shelby Township, about 35 minutes northeast of the city. Many more Ram trucks were stolen on March 8, and one – which looked to be a 702 hp Ram TRX – crashed into the side of a semi truck’s trailer as it attempted to get away. In addition, March 3 saw thieves take three Dodge Challenger Hellcat models from a lot in Auburn Hills. And on February 28, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and a Dodge Challenger Hellcat were taken from a lot near the Jefferson North assembly plant. The majority of the vehicles that the thieves have been targeting cost nearly $100,000.
Stealing a new car from a storage lot isn’t all that hard. While there are security guards that patrol the property, the keys are generally inside the vehicle, which makes dispatching them to dealers easier. However, thieves are finding ways to sneak into the lots and escape by ramming through the gates. There’s currently no word on whether or not the missing cars have been found. But Stellantis has stated that the Sterling Heights Police Department is investigating the thefts. While they won’t comment on the number of vehicles stolen, they have said that extra patrol cars have been sent to the areas around the storage lots.
This isn’t the first time thieves have stolen new Stellantis vehicles in the Detroit area. In October 2021, four cars had been stolen from a Dodge and Ram dealership about an hour outside of Detroit. All four vehicles had been recovered, but a rare 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat had crashed into a wall. Additionally, in May 2018, eight Ram trucks were stolen from a factory in Warren, Michigan.
