In a brazen heist that took place early Tuesday morning, thieves targeted Dream Luxury Car Rental, a Southfield dealership specializing in high-end vehicles, and made off with three luxury cars estimated to be worth over $300,000. The incident, which was captured on surveillance cameras, saw the perpetrators smashing through a window to gain access to the showroom floor. According to ClickOnDetroit, the theft occurred around 1:30 a.m. at the dealership located on 8 Mile and Telegraph roads, where the owner, Sam Zahr, expressed a sense of violation by the break-in.
The stolen vehicles included a Dodge RAM TRX, a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53, and a Chevy Corvette, all high-end rentals from the dealership's range; the thieves made their getaway after first breaking into the establishment on foot, reported FOX 2 Detroit. In their haste, the Chevrolet Corvette sustained damage as it backed into a Rolls Royce SUV, which also had significant damage inflicted upon it, and this collision incidentally occurred shortly before the robbers split up with all three stolen cars later being discovered in various locations across Detroit's west side, including a warehouse.
Fortunately, due to the incorporation of GPS technology and other advanced tracking systems, the stolen vehicles were quickly disabled and recovered, albeit with some damages. Comprehensively, Zahr estimated the loss, including repairs and business disruptions, to be approximately $30,000, as detailed by ClickOnDetroit. The theft not only affected the dealership's inventory but also its ability to meet customer commitments, with Zahr having to notify a bride that the damaged Rolls-Royce would not be available for her wedding the following day.
Southfield police responded to the scene minutes after the crime was reported, and Zahr monitored the break-in in real-time from his home, which he described as particularly alarming given the value of the vehicles involved, "Imagine you’re looking at the camera and you see this happening to your business and your car's worth hundreds of thousands. So, it wasn’t easy for the first five, 10 minutes,” Zahr said, as per WXYZ. As the investigation continues, authorities are appealing to the public for assistance, with information leading to an arrest potentially yielding a $5,000 reward offered by the dealership owner. The public can submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers or contact the Detroit police directly with any pertinent information concerning the high-value smash-and-grab.
