Locksmith And Dealership Employee Linked to Luxury Car-Theft Ring

May 17, 2012
Toyota dealership employee is accused of supplying key codes and locksmith is accused of cutting keys used to steal vehicles without damaging them.

May 16--Two Central Florida men were among 14 people arrested for their suspected involvement in a sophisticated international luxury-vehicle theft ring based out of the New York City region, the New York Attorney General announced Wednesday.

The criminal enterprise is suspected of stealing dozens of vehicles valued at more than $1 million and shipping them to Africa or selling them on the black market in Chicago.

The Attorney General's office said the group was comprised of an international broker, a local broker, steal men, a forged document specialist, a locksmith, key code brokers, and a Central Florida Toyota dealership employee who covertly supplied the key codes needed to steal the cars.

Twelve of the men were charged in a 58-count indictment.

Among those who face an enterprise corruption charge, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years in prison, are Maximo Mendez, 49, of Kissimmee and Avery Springette, 25, of Orlando.

The Attorney General's office said Springette was an employee of Central Florida Toyota and provided key codes to the ring, which made it possible for the locksmith to create after-market keys that the steal crew needed to heist the vehicles.

According to the Attorney General's office, the operation's international broker would place an order with the local broker, who would then tell the steal crew boss what vehicle was to be stolen.

The steal team accessed cars using keys obtained from a locksmith. Once in the car, the steal man used a portable computer to program the key to sync to the vehicle's unique code, enabling them to steal the vehicle without causing damage.

The stolen vehicles were stored at locations in Queens and the Bronx until they were loaded into containers to be shipped from ports in New Jersey or Maryland, and shipped to Africa.

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