A thief swooped into the Fort Lauderdale AutoNation Collision Center and stole a Mercedes-Benz right in front of mechanics in just minutes, surveillance video shows.
The keys were placed on the roof of a black, Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan as it was being repaired. Before long, the suspect, whom police believe is a male in his late teens, snatched the keys, got behind the wheel, and backed the 2011 luxury sedan out of the garage at 122 Southwest 22nd St.
Police pointed out the hasty escape could have hurt someone.
"As he's turning on the vehicle, there's actually an employee who's working on the rear passenger side of the vehicle, hears the engine and jumps out of the way," said Fort Lauderdale Police spokeswoman Det. DeAnna Greenlaw.
The surveillance video shows one worker trying to catch up to the car as it pulled away on the afternoon of Sept. 25, but he was not able to stop the car.
On the video, the suspect is seen wearing a blue T-shirt and blue shorts.
He first enters the shop to ask a worker if the center paints cars. After being directed to the AutoNation office, detectives believe the suspect hung out nearby to scope out the shop, before coolly making his way back inside to steal the Mercedes.
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"He's very confident and brazen, and knows exactly what he set out to do that day when he walked into that shop," Greenlaw said.
As for the car owner, AutoNation told NBC 6 it has provided them another vehicle at no additional expense. Meantime, police are hoping someone recognizes the thief or the car, with Florida license plate number ALC L37.
Anyone with information is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS, or Det. Amy Hoover at 954-828-5914.
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