Dennis RomeroIt was a theft that will go down in history among criminals as a textbook case of how to do this with the utmost ease.
Authorities say a man with a shaved head walked up to a salesman at a downtown area dealership, asked for a key so he could listen to a 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo's engine, and drove off as the dealership dodo stood with his hand on the door.
Yep. It all happened …
… Wednesday at about 2 p.m. at Motor Village LA, 2025 South Figueroa St., according to the L.A. Sheriff's Department's Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention.
The salesman is probably used to people wanting to hear the Maserati's engine: The car is essentially a Ferrari in gentleman's clothing.
But maybe he should have been on alert: Two Maseratis have been stolen in three days this week in New York. In one case the car was taken from an off-duty corrections officer. When cops gave chase they were no match for the Italian sports car.
Back in L.A., sheriff's officials state that they captured the casual criminal on security video:
The suspect.; Credit: LASD
The suspect asked the salesperson for the ignition key to listen to the engine. The salesperson provided the key and the suspect sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. While the salesperson was holding on to the opened driver's door, the suspect put the car in drive and drove away northbound on Figueroa. The theft of the Maserati was captured on security surveillance video …
So if you've seen a blue Maserati like the one pictured, and the guy behind the wheel has a shaved head, maybe call this number: 800-299-8727.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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