What Happens When Thieves Try to Drive Through the Service Bay

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Sometimes the difference between a costly theft and a failed attempt comes down to seconds and smart security choices.

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Just before 4:30 a.m. on April 22, a group of would-be thieves broke into a dealership’s service bay under the cover of darkness. According to authorities, they didn’t just sneak around — they attempted to drive a Jeep Grand Wagoneer straight through the roll-up service door.

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Two other vehicles, believed to be acting as lookouts, circled nearby streets. Surveillance footage and quick police response led to six arrests, including five suspects now facing felony charges.

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So, how did the thieves get in? And more importantly… what security measures could have stopped them before it ever got that far?

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What This Attempted Theft Tells Us

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This incident isn’t an outlier — it’s a blueprint. It reveals exactly how modern dealership thefts are carried out:

• Multiple coordinated roles (drivers, lookouts, inside operators)
  
  
• Service bays as entry points — often unlocked or lightly alarmed
  
  
• Vehicles already on the service line as targets
  
  
• Quick smash-and-grab access to keys or tool storage

• Escape routes were pre-planned with multiple vehicles

This theft wasn’t random, it was targeted and coordinated.

Security Isn’t Just About Cameras — It’s About Control

Cameras are important, and alarms help. But if keys, fobs, and high-value tools are easily accessible once someone’s inside, you’ve already lost control.

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That’s why successful dealerships are turning to controlled access systems like the iSafe — not just to monitor theft, but to prevent it from succeeding in the first place.

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Lock Down the Keys — No Matter Where They're Stored

With an iSafe, every asset is controlled and secured. Even if thieves make it into the service bay, they can’t start or drive off without biometric or code access.

Real-Time Alerts, Not Just Recording

Unlike passive surveillance systems, iSafe notifies managers immediately when unauthorized access is attempted, with logs and alerts pushed directly to mobile devices.

Track Everything

iSafe creates a real-time audit trail of who accessed what and when. So if something does go wrong, you don’t just guess — you know.

Lessons from the Attempted Theft

This dealership was lucky. The thieves failed. But the next group might not.

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Modern theft crews are organized, equipped, and fast — but they’re often counting on weak internal security. Once the thieves have the keys or tools in hand, it’s game over.

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If a smart key system like iSafe had been in place? All vehicle keys wouldn’t have been accessible. iSafe is what real security looks like in today’s world.

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Don’t just react to theft — prevent it before it starts.