Georgia Police Arrest Suspect In Sophisticated Theft Of Five Ford Pickups

Georgia Police Department Nabs Suspect In Theft of Five Pickups From Ford Dealership Near Atlanta.

It seems to happen almost daily, sometimes, or at least weekly, when one news outlet or other talks about car and truck thefts. It’s almost like saying that it may snow in the winter or that there may be thunderstorms on hot summer afternoons.

Sometimes Sophisticated Multi-State Theft Rings Involved

Sometimes, the car or truck thefts involve organized gangs, while at other times, it is just an individual who takes a truck from a person’s house, leaving that person with a rather ample space where the truck or car used to sit.

Related story:  Is Ford Stashing Pickups For Quality Issues?

Sometimes, though, things are a bit more sophisticated as organized gangs that may have outlets across the country will set up and steal multiple vehicles from a dealership storage yard or storage area. Indeed, last winter, a group of thieves with ties to New England set up a rather sophisticated theft ring that took vehicles from storage areas where they were awaiting parts, applied for stolen vehicle identification numbers, and then directed them to other parts of the country where unwitting people paid good, hard-earned money for vehicles that they ultimately lost. It wasn’t fair, but it happened, and it was reported here on Torque News.

In a riff on this type of operation, it seems that a rather brazen truck thief set up a series of thefts that left him stealing at least five pickups from a dealership in Atlanta, Georgia. The dealership is located near Atlanta in the City of Winder, Georgia.

New Theft ID Service: Ford introduces new vehicle ID service

Indeed, it is one of the reasons that Ford has come up with a new Stolen Vehicle Service feature, “a connected service designed to help locate and recover stolen vehicles.”

Police Identify A Major Suspect

This is a story about a 28-year-old recently arrested after stealing five pickups from Akins Ford of Winder. The reported thief, Xavier Cordel Evans, was nabbed by police following the discovery by Akins that he stole about $400,000 worth of pickups from the dealership. Akins, working with the local police department, tracked down the miscreant in a few days, and Evans was charged with five counts of theft by taking a motor vehicle.

It seems that the suspect is rather sophisticated. Winder Police Chief Jim Fullington told the Ford Authority that Evans had particular knowledge that led to his arrest because it required “specialized technical knowledge” and equipment to bypass the vehicles’ security systems and reprogram electronic ignition systems.”

Police Note That Thieves Are Sophisticated

Credit Where It Is Due:  Chief gives credit to sophisticated group

Chief Fullington gives credit where it is due. He told FA that thieves like Evans are not ordinary car thieves. This is an organized group or theft right with specialized technical knowledge and equipment that targets expensive late-model vehicles in high demand for the whole vehicles or their parts. I am proud of the work of Winder police personnel in this investigation. This case is an example of diligent police work and utilizing various intelligence tools to follow the evidence in an investigation.  It also shows the significance of good working relationships and communications with other law enforcement agencies that can help further an investigation.”

Ford Motor Photo

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.