NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Monday night a Jeep Wrangler was stolen out of the Jack Miller Kia lot in North Kansas City. It's the third time this has happened in a few months.
Incidents like that keep Chris Stroud, service manager of Jack Miller KIA, from doing what he really enjoys.
"Making sure the customer drives away happy," said Stroud.
Instead, Tuesday morning Stroud was dealing with a broken gate, a stole Jeep Wrangler and telling the owner their car was gone.
"It just completely flips the day, the week upside down," said Stroud. "We're responsible to maintain people's stuff. They trust us."
And this isn't the first time Jack Miller KIA has experienced this. Within the past few months, three vehicles were stolen — a truck, a tractor and now a Jeep.
Police said a similar crime happened at an ARC Auto Store lot across the street early Monday morning. That incident was caught on surveillance footage.
Jerry Brockhaus of ARC Auto Store said he thinks it's the work of pros.
"They were in that truck less than 30 seconds before they took off," said Brockhaus.
Brockhaus said there is equipment that allows thieves to electronically hotwire cars and he believes that's what they are using.
Meanwhile, North Kansas City Police believe the thieves are scouting larger vehicles to use in other crimes.
"I think the metro has seen an increase of the type of thefts where vehicles are used to force entry into a business. Where they are driving into the business to gain entry," said Maj. Jim Bagley of North Kansas City Police.
In fact, Bagley tells 41 Action News the truck that was stolen back in August from Jack Miller KIA was used in a separate crime.
The dealerships said it costs about $2,000 to fix the gates. Now, both of them are parking their own vehicles in front of the gates.
Stroud has this message for thieves: "Get out there and work hard and earn a living. Don't go out there and ruin everybody's lives," said Stroud.
Police said if you have any information, call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. You can remain anonymous.
