Californian Julio Sanchez, Angel Mares, and trucker Michael Serrano worked together to terrorize Dodge dealerships in South Florida for almost a year. Serrano owned a trucking company and would ship cars stolen by Mares and Sanchez from the Everglades State to California.

Working together, the three stole 91 high-end muscle cars from dealerships and shipped 65 to California. The thefts happened so often, that Dodge dealerships had to change the way they parked their muscle cars.

“We had to position our lot where the high-horse powered vehicles were in the middle, because we’ve had some stolen from us, and they’ve hopped the curb,” Matt Greenhow, owner of Posner Park Chrysler Dodge, told FOX 13.

His dealership was hit particularly hard in 2020, and was happy to hear the three have been apprehended.

“Hopefully others see it and know they’re being watched,” he said. “If they do it, the same thing will happen to them.”

The trio used dummy fobs to steal cars easily

After Mares and Sanchez found a vehicle they assumed would be a high-yield for the team, they’d leave tracking devices on them. Then they’d return later with a coder device and a dummy key fob to program the car to the fob.

When the car was successfully programmed, they were able to start it and drive it off of the dealership lot. Then the team would change the VIN, and have it shipped off to unsuspecting buyers in California.

“Use of technology aside, this scheme was a simple one: steal cars, alter their vehicle identification numbers, transport the stolen cars to another location, sell them, and divide their profits,” District Attorney Roger Hanberg told the outlet.

Their clients included other dealerships, small businesses, and buyers from Facebook Marketplace.

Police were able to recover over 60 cars

Out of the 91 that were stolen, 65 were recovered and returned to their respective retailer.

“This is an incredible result, and it is due to the dedicated work of a large team of investigators,” Hanberg said. “We will not rest until all members of this auto theft ring are charged and held accountable for their crimes.”

Serrano, considered the trio’s leader, faces 10 years in prison. Mares and Sanchez have been sentenced to five years behind bars.

While these were the lead men behind the theft, the connections of five other men are being investigated.