Car Thieves Hit DFW Airport, Stealing Millions in Vehicles

Imagine this: a group of car thieves targeting airports, making off with millions in vehicles. That's exactly what happened at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport, according to police. They've been on the case since February 2023, tracking a gang believed to be from Houston. This crew didn't just hit DFW, though—they've been busy in New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah too. Three men were nabbed at DFW in early October. How? A license plate reader flagged their car, and police stopped them for an unsecured temporary plate. Inside, they found tools used for breaking into cars and a device to reprogram car key fobs. Fourteen key fobs were also found. One of the men, Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, was spotted at DFW terminals where cars were stolen, and he was even photographed in some of the stolen vehicles.

Hernandez-Frometa and another suspect, Jose Antonio Perez-Rodriguez, were caught trying to steal a Corvette in Nevada back in April. They were linked to thefts at Las Vegas Municipal Airport. In July, Hernandez-Frometa and another suspect, Yanier Pinillo-Toro, were arrested in Salt Lake City. They faced similar charges and were found with multiple car keys and the same reprogramming tool. In August, Perez-Rodriguez was caught in Harris County with a car that had its VIN switched. All three men are now in Tarrant County jail, facing charges for their role in organized criminal activity.

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