HICKORY, NC – Thieves have struck again at a local car dealership, stealing six cars valued at nearly half a million dollars.
The raid comes after dealerships in Mooresville, Charlotte and Asheville have been targeted in the past month.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty learned one of the cars, which is valued at nearly $100,000, has been recovered after it crashed in a high-speed chase in Newton.
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Police said they began the pursuit early Monday morning after seeing three speeding cars. At the time, they say they had no idea about the assault at Mountain Mitsubishi in Hickory.
The owner of the dealership shared with Faherty pictures of the broken glass left behind. The photos even show the rock the thieves used to break into it.
Faherty learned that some of the vehicles taken were Dodge Challenger Hellcats, a Corvette, a Camaro and a Cadillac.
Hickory police are working with other agencies to see if the case is connected to a larger ring.
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Faherty spoke with the owner of the dealership who said plans are already in place to beef up security.
“There’s a feeling of being violated, there’s a feeling of people coming in and taking food out of your kids’ mouths, out of your vendors’ kids’ mouths, and that’s not a good feeling,” said Brian Vonderheide. “The only thing that makes sense to me is that they’re stealing the cars, sending them overseas, transporting them. I mean if it’s a ride thing, that makes it even worse.”
Faherty learned the driver arrested in Newton was hospitalized after the crash, but left before Hickory investigators arrived. Police are still looking for that driver.
>> Find out more about his investigation on Channel 9 from 5pm
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