1 week Ago By Rachel Dobkin
A DRIVER had dropped off her car at the dealership, only to have it vanish while under the auto workers’ care.It was a toll bill that revealed what happened to her car after she left it at a Florida Hyundai.A driver had dropped off her car at the dealership, only to have it vanish while under the auto workers’ careWINKIt was a toll bill that revealed what happened to her car after she left it at a Florida HyundaiWINKLocal police say that a woman dropped her car off at the Hyundai dealership in Fort Myers – a little over a two-hour drive northwest of Fort Lauderdale – for service.
Days went by and then she was notified that her car drove through tolls on a local bridge at least six times. It was only when the vehicle owner arrived back at the dealership that employees realized her car had vanished. It turns out that Albert Wheeler, a 19-year-old dealership employee, had allegedly stolen the vehicle.
Police arrested him last week for grand theft of a motor vehicle.Wheeler was allegedly found driving the woman’s car in the next county over.He couldn’t answer the cops when they asked why he had the car.
Wheeler did tell police that the car was not stolen, but couldn’t say whether he knew the car owner.The suspect had only worked for the dealership since February.He was a dealership porter, meaning he moved customers’ cars.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the dealership for comment.
LOCALS REACT TO CAR THEFTTasha Rotermund of Fort Myers told local CBS affiliate WINK that the car theft “doesn’t surprise me at all.”“That’s why we try to do as much as we can on our own, or, you know, take it to other people that we know,” she said. Rotermund’s husband usually does their car tune-ups himself.
How to prevent vehicle theftHere are 10 ways to avoid your car being stolen according to an auto insurance company:Lock your doors. It makes it more difficult for thieves to access anything inside the vehicle. Keep your keys on your person.
With smart keys and fobs, a car can be unlocked if the key is close by. If the key is inside or on your person, it can’t be unlocked. Don’t leave a spare key near the vehicle, as thieves know to look for them in common places like in a wheel well, under items in the driveway, or in the glovebox.
Keep windows closed. If a window is open, thieves can manually unlock the doors. Park in well-lit areas, as it helps detour thieves if their actions are visible to passersby.
If your vehicle doesn’t have one, consider an anti-theft alarm system.If you live in a high-crime area, consider an immobilizer device that utilizes a kill switch if the device doesn’t recognize an authorized key. Consider a tracking device to be able to keep tabs on your vehicle’s location if it’s stolen.
Never leave valuables in the car, especially in a visible spot. Thieves know to look in the floor boards, passenger, or rear seats for valuables. Double-check before leaving the vehicle that it’s secure.
To protect wheels and tires, especially aftermarket wheels, consider wheel lock lug nuts. They require a special socket to remove, so they’re impossible to remove without it.Source: Allstate Auto Insurance“What if they’re gonna go out joyriding, or they wreck your car,” she said.
“You’re just concerned about it.”Another local called the car theft “insane.”“It’s not fair, you know, bottom line, it is not fair,” a third person said.
He continued: “I’d be sad, number one. Number two, I’d be surprised, and I would call my insurance company.”DEALERSHIP ARRESTSThe president and vice president of the Hovey Motorcars dealership in Boerne, Texas – about a two-hour drive southwest of Austin – were arrested last week.
Richard Dean Hovery Sr. and his son Richard Dean Hovery Jr. have been accused of conning their customers out of $300,000 in an elaborate scheme.
The two allegedly used customers’ money for their own personal and business expenses instead of giving the money back to the victims or putting the money toward their bank loans.Albert Wheeler, a 19-year-old dealership employee, was arrested for allegedly stealing the woman’s carWINK.
