This is a warning to travelers.
An alleged organized theft ring with at least 14 members across the country is accused of stealing nearly $5 million worth of vehicles from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) between 2023 and November 2024, according to a search warrant obtained by local media. The group is believed to have stolen approximately 52 cars, resulting in a total loss of $4.9 million, as stated in the affidavit released by authorities.
DFW Airport officials informed Fox News Digital that recent arrests had significantly disrupted these organized crime groups, leading to a notable decrease in reported vehicle thefts. The number of car thefts at the airport dropped by nearly 58% from 2023 to November 2024, with 142 thefts in 2023 and only 60 in 2024. According to a DFW spokesperson, thieves have been primarily targeting high-end muscle cars and luxury SUVs, though car theft remains a widespread issue at airports and public facilities across the nation.
Eric Brown, a security expert and former U.S. Army Green Beret, explained that organized theft rings often use tactics similar to those of transnational crime groups, targeting areas with weak security and predictable patterns. The ring is suspected to have focused on airports throughout the Western U.S., including those in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.
The alleged leader of the theft ring, 37-year-old Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, reportedly used auto diagnostic tools called “Autel devices” to reprogram car key fobs, enabling him to steal vehicles. These devices, which are meant for legitimate use by locksmiths and mechanics, can be misused to bypass modern vehicle security systems. Hernandez-Frometa and two accomplices were arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July, after being caught looking into vehicles at the local airport. Following a failed traffic stop attempt, the suspects fled but were later apprehended with help from law enforcement. During the investigation, authorities recovered blank key fobs, motel keycards, and additional evidence linking the suspects to a coordinated car theft operation.
