MARION - A recent theft at a dealership in Marion, North Carolina has left the business reeling after the thieves made off with all the car keys to every vehicle on the lot. The incident occurred at night, and the culprits are believed to have been a group of professional thieves who were able to bypass the dealership’s security measures and gain access to the keys.
According to reports, the thieves threw a brick through the window to gain access to the building. Once inside, they quickly located the key management system where the keys were stored. After easily breaking into the system with a crowbar, they left with every key to the cars in their inventory. The dealership is now left with no way to access its inventory and is struggling to figure out how to move forward. On top of the three vehicles stolen, equaling over $250,000, the major expense to reprogram every key will also unfortunately be very high.
This incident highlights the importance of dealership security measures and the need for businesses to take extra precautions to protect their assets. In this case, it appears that the thieves were well-prepared and had likely done their research on the dealership’s security protocols. It is possible that the dealership may have been able to prevent the theft if they had taken more measures to secure their keys. For example, storing the keys in a more secure location, such as a safe with more robust locking mechanisms or implementing an access control system that requires multiple levels of authentication to gain access to the keys, may have deterred the thieves or made it more difficult for them to carry out the theft.
The dealership in question is now faced with the difficult task of replacing all of the keys for their inventory, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Additionally, the theft has likely damaged the dealership’s reputation, as customers may be hesitant to purchase from a business that has been the victim of a theft.
This theft serves as a reminder of the importance of security measures in protecting businesses’ assets. It is crucial for businesses to take the necessary steps to secure both physical as well as digital assets and to regularly review and update security protocols as needed. By doing so, businesses can minimize the risk of theft and maintain the trust of their customers. 1Micro’s first priority is security and providing a robust option to secure your keys. Contact us to learn more!