Frank Tragesser of Florida roadtripped all the way to Milwaukee to visit his fiancée. He took the opportunity to enjoy his 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, an SUV infamous for its supercharged “Hellcat” engine. He thought it was safe parked outside his hotel, then it disappeared.

Tragesser loves his car. He said, “It’s 707 horsepower stock…It’s probably one of the quickest cars on the road because of that all-wheel drive.” And he’s right. The Jeep Trackhawk can rocket to 60 mph faster than some RWD Hellcat Chargers.

He admitted “There’s a million and one things going through your head when your car gets stolen…I’ve never had that happen before.” Naturally he contacted the police. Would they have to hunt his car down on the black market? Question known criminals? Hire private investigators with high tech tracking methods? Nope. They just checked instagram.

A local named Justin Powell had already posted a photo of himself behind the Jeep’s wheel. The caption: “This is a trophy for me.”

Officers rocked up to Powell’s girlfriend’s condo and what was parked there? Tragesser’s Jeep.

Milwaukee PD busts a Hellcat-stealing “mastermind”

Before Powell could say, “Who me?” They also found a professional-grade key programming computer inside withe a stockpile of blank fobs. They also found a fob “programmed to work with Tragesser’s Jeep.”

The Milwaukee Police Department is claiming it’s busted a high tech theft ring. These masterminds are using black market programmers–similar to the devices dealerships use to set up replacement keys–as well as other methods.

“Powell stated his role was to share locations of sought-after vehicles and then members of his crew would come to steal them by use of a key programmer.”

But what these guys boast in tech smarts they lack in street smarts. Not only did Powell allow a photo taken of him behind the stolen Jeep’s wheel, but he doesn’t seem to understand his “right to remain silent.” When reporters knocked on his girlfriend’s door, she called him in jail and he was happy to go on the air.

Powell claims there’s no evidence linking him to the Jeep theft. He said of the apartment where it was found: “That’s not my residence, bro.” He also claims he doesn’t own the Instagram account where the photo of him in the Trackhawk was posted. Finally, he argues he can’t be the kingpin because he’s locked up and the crimes are continuing. “As you interview me right now that s––‘s going on right now.”

Tragesser said, “It’s been an awful situation all and all.” No word on whether he and his long-distance fiancée will live in Florida or Milwaukee once wed.