Many people go to car showrooms with the intention of driving home in a new or used vehicle. Many of the best cars and SUVs have become more expensive these days, but there are still millions of customers each year. Sadly, there are also instances of car theft at dealerships. Recently, one man in Nebraska stole a vehicle from a dealership, and now he’s behind bars following his rather lengthy drive in a BMW SUV and a traffic stop. 

Instances of car theft from showrooms are becoming more common

Car theft is a massive problem for drivers all over the country. However, car showrooms are also being targeted these days. According to WOWT, this recently happened in Omaha, Nebraska. The report says that the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received word on February 21st of a burglary at Onyx Automotive. Notably, this happened at around 5 a.m. 

The authorities said that the dealership’s camera footage showed the car theft as it happened. This footage included the 25-year-old man breaking into the manager’s office, locating keys, and deciding between different vehicles. After some time, the man decided on a BMW SUV and could then be seen driving it through a security gate and leaving the dealership.

Oftentimes, people who commit car theft keep the stolen vehicles nearby. However, this isn’t the case here. A police officer from the Iowa State Patrol spotted the BMW and conducted a traffic stop. For context, this was over 200 miles from the dealership where he stole the SUV. They arrested the man and took him to the Jasper County Jail. His charges include first-degree theft, reckless driving, and failure to provide aid after a traffic accident.