COLUMBUS, Ohio — Darin Harvey was looking forward to driving home from John Glenn Columbus International Airport after his vacation last Friday when he discovered that the car he parked on Level C5 in the long-term parking lot was gone.
“You expect it to be secure. If they don’t have the cameras working, if the tag readers aren't working correctly, that really concerns me,” he said.
Harvey is not alone in his concern. This is the second time a car parked in the same long-term parking floor was stolen despite multiple security cameras that the airport says are operational.
10TV requested a copy of the surveillance video on Monday, but the airport did not release it due to an ongoing investigation.
"We would not want to prematurely release anything that could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation or a prosecutor’s ability to move forward with the case," the airport spokesperson said.
10TV has confirmed that both SUVs stolen from the long-term lot were Jeep Cherokee Trackhawks. The SUV is highly sought after for its engine power.
According to Car and Driver, the price of a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is close to $90,000.
Harvey’s SUV has yet to be recovered by police. Police did recover the other SUV on Columbus’ west side, according to the first victim. Her SUV was stripped down to the frame.
Thomas Burke, a retired NYPD auto theft detective, believes what is happening here could be part of an organized crime ring.
“A lot of these vehicles go overseas. so by the time you get back from your trip, they are overseas and the prime target is Africa,” he said.
Burke said when it comes to making money, there’s a reason why car thieves are going after high-end cars.
“The average price of a new car is $43,000, so a kilo of heroin is $35,000. It’s easier to move a car than a kilo of heroin so car theft is the flavor of the day,” he says.
He said airport parking is a prime target for thieves because cars left unattended and are not reported stolen until days after the crime when the owner returns to the airport.
Burke said if you do park at the airport, make sure your car has an alarm or a steering wheel lock to deter theft.
As for Harvey, he said his days of parking in the long-term lot are over.
“Yeah, I won't park at the airport ever again,” he said.
An airport spokesperson told 10TV, “We are taking this extremely seriously. In addition, we are asking our passengers to call the airport’s communications center at 614-239-4029 if they see anything suspicious. If it is an emergency, our passengers should call 911.”
Car thefts are a nationwide problem and have spurred federal legislation after a history of car theft from the Denver airport.