U-Haul business owner says thieves using stolen trucks for crimes

LITHONIA, Ga. — A DeKalb County U-Haul dealer says a group of thieves keep stealing his trucks and using them for smash-and-grabs.

Channel 2's Craig Lucie went to Terry's Auto Care Center and U-Haul in Lithonia Tuesday where video captured the thieves breaking in over and over again.

Owner Dorian McKelvey showed Channel 2 Action News video of a 'burglary crew' finding different ways to steal the keys to his U-Haul trucks.

"This is when a customer pulled up and they ran off," McKelvey said. "They ain't stopping at nothing."
He said in one night, the men stole five trucks and that's not all.

“One case took three and another case took another truck,” McKelvey said. %

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McKelvey used to have a key drop box set up, but he said they ripped it down. Then he said they punched through his wall and reached through for the key drop box.

“I put up a slot so they can't get in there, hopefully deter from going inside. But if they do, I've got a dog waiting on them,” McKelvey said.

McKelvey said they started stealing his trucks in October and they tried to steal a truck Monday night by popping the lock.

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He said they use the trucks to commit crimes Channel 2 Action News has covered.

“They use them for smash-and-grabs. Went down to Candler Road to pawn shop took stuff from there,” McKelvey said.

McKelvey said they also used one of his trucks to steal an ATM from a Family Dollar in Lithonia.

“My cargo van was in a high-speed chase after a home invasion what they are using trucks for,” McKelvey said.

Officers have been to his business on four different occasions recently after each crime.

McKelvey said he would like them to patrol the area more considering what's happened to his business.

DeKalb County police confirmed that thieves have stolen seven U-Hauls from that location since October. Police tell us all of them have been recovered.

Cox Media Group