CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police are looking into the frequency of car thefts at Atlanta's airport after Channel 2 Action News reported on three cars stolen by the same man since April.
Channel 2's Tom Jones first reported about a thief stealing older-model GMC and Chevrolet trucks from parking lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Jones learned that 10 cars have been stolen in the past year.
Victims told Jones that airport officials told them vehicle thefts are common at the airport.
In the case of the older-model cars, the thief either found a ticket in the car, said he lost his ticket, or drove another car in and used that ticket to get the stolen car out.
Jones talked to all three people who police believe were targeted by the same man. Alex Nations, Bradley Berank and Alan Herdt all had their trucks stolen in a five-month period from airport parking lots. The victims said crooks may have targeted the older trucks because they are easy to jump start.
Nations had just returned from a business trip and walked to his Chevy truck at the airport only to find it wasn't there.
"At first, I was like, 'Maybe I didn't park it here. I know I parked at the end of this front row...'" Nations said.
That's when he called airport security and told them his truck was gone.
"And they were like, "No, you're confused. You don't know where you parked at,'" Nations said.
Police quickly realized the truck was, in fact, stolen.
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Herdt's Chevy truck was also stolen.
"We've never seen the truck again," Herdt said.
Beranek's 1996 Chevy Silverado was also stolen. Beranek said after he realized his truck was gone, airport security took a look at the video surveillance and saw a guy driving out in the Chevy.
"I just couldn't believe it would happen at the airport," Beranek said. "I was shocked."
Police believe an image of a man captured on surveillance video at a pay machine is the thief.
Nations said airport officials were not surprised to hear his car was gone.
"Yes, (they said) that was approximately the third one that month," Nations said.
It's unclear if the suspect police have on surveillance video is connected to all 10 thefts.
The victims say there is nothing worse than returning home and realizing your car is not there.
"No, nothing worse," Beranek said. "This was fairly late at night. I didn't get home until 4:30 in the morning."
Other victims just want the man caught.
"I definitely want him caught and I'm sure I know the other people want him caught also," Nations said.
Police said they are monitoring crime trends at the airport and will shift resources where needed. They also said they are working with private parking companies to see what can be done to stop car theft.
Police said people should not leave their keys or tickets in their cars.
Some 30,000 cars park at the airport daily.
Cox Media Group
