License Plate Readers Help Bust Multi-State Car Theft Ring, $1.5M in Stolen Cars Recovered

Two Monroe cops cracked a major car theft operation that stole $1.5 million in vehicles across the Southeast.  Their smart police work ended months of high-tech car thefts.

At a ceremony in Atlanta, Officer Aaron Beckham and Detective Matt Sierk won the 2025 Flock Safety Solved Award. They used smart cameras to catch thieves who targeted pricey cars.

The crooks struck in three cities — Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, and Monroe — during 2024. They went after fast cars: Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks.

Using special tools, the thieves broke into cars without a trace. They could crack security and make new keys in just five minutes flat.

The break in the case came when the officers spotted something odd in their data. One car kept showing up near each theft. The same vehicle made trips between cities right when cars went missing.

Police teams worked together across state lines. A camera caught the main suspect's car, leading to a quick arrest on the highway.

The search turned up everything. Police found tools for copying keys and hacking car computers. Parts from stolen cars were scattered around too.

In the end, cops got back over 30 cars. The total hit $1.5 million: a huge win for all police teams on the case.

The bust stopped thieves who had struck fear across several states. Their quick, tech-smart methods showed just how much car theft has changed.

Smart cameras proved to be key in solving this complex case. They aided police in connecting crimes that crossed city and state borders, leading straight to the thieves.