(WXYZ) – “You can’t really trust your vehicle out there,” said Bryan Adams, the previous owner of a 2021 Jeep Track Hawk.
“I walked into the terminal, and I also thought, ‘I’m going to go back to move it somewhere where it’s not so visible.’ If I had trusted those instincts, it probably wouldn’t have been a steal, said Eric Thomas, former owner of the 2017 Jeep SRT.
Eric and Brian have very similar stories. They were both on business trips for more than 48 hours and upon their return, both were shocked when their parking spaces were empty.
“Less than 24 hours. We come back from New York and our car is gone,” says Brian.
“I went up and down a level and couldn’t find it,” says Eric.
According to data from the Detroit Metro Airport Authority, there is an almost 900% increase in vehicle thefts from 2021 to 2022.
- 2020: 0 steals
- 2021: 3 steals
- 2022: 29 steals
The most popular models stolen in 2022 were:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee – 12
- Dodge Charger – 7
- Dodge Durango – 6
- Cadillac Escalade – 1
- Chevy Camaro – 1
- Chrysler 200 – 1
- Dodge Ram – 1
There are no cameras anywhere in Big Blue Deck. In the McNamara Terminal parking garage, 7 Action News found a camera pointing to the maintenance garage.
Brian and Eric both said they filed reports with the police. The police find Eric’s Jeep and Brian finds his Jeep on Facebook Marketplace. He says his 2021 Jeep Track Hawk engine was on the market for $10,000 along with other parts.
“You can tell right away. The bus engine was installed on the removed blocks with zero care,” he said.
Eric’s 2017 Jeep SRT had thousands of dollars in damage and was found in a Detroit police impound lot. It was out of gas and marijuana Eric said.
“It was abandoned in Detroit on Montclair Street.”
“The safety of every vehicle at DTW remains a priority. In response to the recent theft, our Airport Authority Police Department and security teams increased patrols to ensure 24-hour coverage across Big Blue Deck,” DTW said in a statement. and McNamara Terminal parking decks. We are actively exploring the installation of additional cameras and other technology to enhance security as well as pursue additional screening and enforcement methods.
