Thieves target car dealerships

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - When you take your car in to have the oil changed or get a tune up, the last think you are thinking about is someone stealing your car while you are waiting. It is a trend, however, hitting several dealerships along the Interstate 35 corridor.

Roger Beasley Volvo and Mac Haik Ford in Georgetown are just two of the most recent cases.

"As soon as the drivers entered the service bay and released their vehicles to the dealership, while they were dealing with representatives, [thieves] walked over, got in the car and drove off," said Lt. Todd Terbush with the Georgetown Police Department. "It's news for us. We've never seen that before."

The thieves' methods are very simple. When the victim goes inside to check in, the thieves just drive away, unnoticed.

"There's a group of people out of Laredo, coming up and down the 35 corridor," said Corp. Scott Perry, with the Austin Police Department. "They are jumping in and then stealing those cars. Then driving them to the border to Mexico."

Georgetown police said they linked these two cases to Angel Ruiz, 25. Ruiz was arrested by Laredo police after one of the vehicles stolen in Georgetown was found in San Antonio.

"They apprehended him and two others, who I have no idea who they are," said Perry.

But, police believe there could be more people still out there and are working on putting the pieces together. In the meantime, they ask customers to take extra precautions with car keys.

"Give them straight to the representative," said Perry. "Don't leave them in your car, expecting someone else to get them. Take that little extra time."

Ruiz is charged with two other car thefts out of Georgetown. If convicted of the felony theft charges, he faces from two to 20 years in prison.