BOERNE, Texas - Brazen car thieves drive off the lot in a Dodge Challenger as employees watched, not realizing anything was wrong. Sheriff's deputies say some time Wednesday night, burglars stole the key lock boxes off four vehicles at the Boerne Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership. Then they returned at about 8:30 Thursday morning.
"Several individuals pulled up to the dealership in a white pickup and jumped out of the bed of the pickup and had the keys to one of the Dodge Challengers, which happened to be up on one of the risers," explained Lt. Shad Prichard.
He said the two men had the keys to the Challenger, got in and drove it off the riser and off the lot, with a little help from the two men in the white pickup.
"The vehicle that had dropped off the two individuals had come back and created a road block in the access road in front of the dealership," Lt. Prichard said.
The pickup took off toward San Antonio and the Challenger headed toward Boerne, both at a high rate of speed.
Several employees witnessed the theft but didn't realize anything was wrong until the car was driving off the lot.
"One of them (the thieves) had on a shop shirt, like he was an employee of the business. Because they had the keys, it didn't raise any suspicions that maybe they were doing something wrong. Everyone assumed they were doing something they needed to be doing," he said.
Sales Manager Matt Barrientez said employees were stunned.
"For something like this to happen, even in San Antonio is a surprise," he said. "Obviously they were shocked, but they did take a good look at the person who did this offense," Barrientez said.
Investigators said the thieves busted the windows to three of the vehicles when they stole the lock boxes but didn't break anything on the Challenger, which is why it was still on the lot.
Deputies warned the other dealerships in the area about the theft.
One of the men who stole the car are described as a light-skinned Hispanic man, approximately six feet tall and 175 pounds. He was wearing a white baseball cap, a light colored polo shirt and blue jeans. The other man was described as a light-skinned Hispanic man, approximately 5'7" to 5'9" about 160 pounds. He had a goatee that was slightly graying with stubble on the rest of his face. Investigators say that man was wearing a shirt that looked like a "shop uniform" with blue jeans with rags hanging out of the back pocket and a black watch.
The 2010 Dodge Challenger RT did not have any promotional or dealership plates. The getaway truck is described as a white, four door Chevy 2500 pickup with a chrome, diamond-stamped tool box. The truck had paper license plates, with "2TL" possibly in a different order and appeared to be a 2005-2007 model.
If you have any information about the crime, you're urged to call the Kendall County Sheriff's Office (830) 249-9721.
