Police arrest 7 in major car theft ring at Atlanta airport—50+ vehicles stolen, 12 suspects still at large.

💡 TL;DR

• 7 suspects have been arrested in a car theft ring at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
• Police are searching for 12 more people connected to over 50 car thefts.
• Thieves used universal keys to target Chargers, Challengers, and Jeeps.

🔍 What Happened

Imagine landing at Hartsfield-Jackson only to find your car has vanished. That’s exactly what dozens of travelers experienced as an auto theft crime ring swept through ATL airport parking lots.

According to Atlanta police, 7 suspects are now in custody. Three were arrested just over the weekend, joining four others previously detained. Authorities report the group has stolen more than 50 vehicles—and they’re not done yet.

🚗 The Target: Dodge, Jeep & More

Police say the suspects are using “universal keys” to unlock and drive away with high-demand models like Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Jeeps. The crew reportedly worked in groups, scouting the lots and making off with multiple vehicles undetected.

📊 What You Need to Know

• Cars targeted: Chargers, Challengers, and Jeeps.
• How: Universal keys programmed to access and start multiple vehicles.
• Arrests: 7 suspects; 12 still at large.
• Loot recovered: Cash, drugs, and universal keys found inside stolen vehicles.
• Recovery rate: APD says they’ve recovered 86% of the stolen vehicles so far.

🔐 What You Can Do

If you own one of the targeted car models, Atlanta police suggest visiting your dealership to secure your vehicle. Reprogramming your car to lock out universal keys can help—though it may limit the number of programmable keys going forward.

🎯 The Bigger Picture

This incident raises questions about airport security, vehicle vulnerability, and organized crime’s reach in Atlanta. While police continue to hunt for the remaining 12 suspects, travelers are urged to take extra precautions when parking at Hartsfield-Jackson.