How Thieves Got Away with $130,000 in Just Hours

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In the early hours of September 2nd, thieves targeted a dealership in Jena, Louisiana, making off with two high-value vehicles. Surveillance footage showed both cars being driven off the lot shortly after 2 a.m., with a red Chevrolet Traverse following close behind. By the time staff discovered the crime later that morning, the damage was already done.

The stolen vehicles were not small losses:

• 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS Convertible – valued at $54,925
  
  
• 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe – valued at $77,395
  
  

In total, the dealership lost over $130,000 in inventory overnight. Beyond the dollar figure, such incidents also put a dealership’s reputation, insurance costs, and staff safety at risk.

How did this happen?

The harsh reality is that in most dealership thefts, criminals don’t hotwire cars like in the movies, they steal the keys. Once they have access to keys, taking a vehicle is quick, quiet, and difficult to prevent. Standard storage methods like pegboards, drawers, or unlocked cabinets simply don’t stand a chance against determined thieves.

The Solution: Securing Keys with iSafe

At 1Micro, we’ve spent over 25 years helping dealerships stop exactly these kinds of thefts with our iSafe systems.

• Controlled Access – Only authorized staff can retrieve keys, with every interaction logged.
  
  
• 24/7 Protection – Keys remain locked inside an aircraft-grade aluminum, American-manufactured system.
  
  
• Accountability – Every removal is tracked to an individual PIN, making it impossible for keys to “go missing” unnoticed.
  
  
• Peace of Mind – Dealership owners can focus on sales, not sleepless nights worrying about inventory.
  
  

If this dealership had an iSafe system in place, those Camaros would still be on the lot today.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Car thieves are targeting dealerships across the country, and the risks are only growing. The best way to protect your vehicles is to secure the keys before criminals ever get the chance to drive them away.

With iSafe, your inventory stays where it belongs, remaining safe, secure, and ready for your customers.

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