A Gowanus parking garage on President Street near the canal was stripped of five luxury vehicles overnight, a hit that has left tenants and neighbors rattled. Residents discovered the theft early Sunday when they noticed several high-end SUVs gone from the building’s garage. Police said no one was harmed during the incident.
According to the Gothamist, the NYPD reported that thieves made off with a Mercedes G550, a Range Rover, a BMW X5 and two Audis, an SQ5 and a Q5. Officers also found a Hyundai abandoned on a nearby street with its engine still running, police said. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests had been made at the time of publication.
Investigators Seek Leads
The heist comes just days after a state-led takedown of an auto-theft operation that recovered more than 40 stolen vehicles, a case the Office of the New York State Attorney General announced on March 11. That press release detailed tactics such as court-authorized wiretaps and covert surveillance used to track sellers and brokers who resell stolen cars across New York and New Jersey. Officials say joint, cross-jurisdiction investigations remain the primary tool for disrupting networks that traffic stolen vehicles.
Garage Security And Neighborhood Reaction
Neighbors told the Gothamist the garage is unstaffed overnight, even though monthly parking reportedly runs around $500, and studio apartments in the building start above $3,000. A Lamborghini was spotted parked in the garage on Sunday and was not among the vehicles taken, the outlet reported. The theft has already sparked calls from residents for stronger overnight security at private parking facilities.
Detectives say the case remains active and are asking anyone with information to contact the NYPD. Neighbors say the loss has reopened a simmering debate over how the community safeguards high-value vehicles parked near homes and along the canal.
