Several arrests were announced in conjunction with an auto theft ring responsible for stealing more than 80 cars, according to a joint announcement last week by the the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida Attorney General, Tampa International Airport Police Department (TPAPD), Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

On March 11, 2025, FDLE agents, along with FHP, HSI, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, arrested five of the six wanted targets for violations of racketeering, with one suspect also being charged with possession of a vehicle containing altered VIN numbers.

The investigation began in June 2022, when FDLE agents in Fort Myers identified 12 stolen vehicles from multiple counties including Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

When the suspects were identified, they were determined to live in the Tampa Bay area.

Agents discovered the suspects were targeting airport rental vehicles, and had direct access to the keys of high-end rentals.

Suspects with access would transport the vehicles out of the rental lot, and to an unknown location to switch the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) with fraudulent VINs, with the intent to sell the vehicles.

They would also steal rental vehicles from customers by planting tracking devices on each vehicle to find their locations.

The ring was involved in multiple vehicle thefts across several Florida counties, and are alleged to have committed similar crimes in several other states including Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana and Ohio.

“This case is a testament to the power of law enforcement teamwork, and I’m proud of the work we were able to accomplish on this investigation,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “This is a textbook example of law enforcement collaboration at its finest, bringing down a sophisticated crime ring from an operation that stretched across the west coast of Florida.”

The case is being prosecuted by the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.