Thief Hacks Delivery System to Steal Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce in Florida

A thief in Florida managed to steal a 2024 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and a 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, collectively valued at $620,000, by manipulating the delivery instructions through a hacked system. The luxury vehicles, which were in transit, ended up in the wrong hands due to the thief’s clever digital maneuvering.

The sophisticated theft involved the hacker gaining access to Dealer’s Choice Auto Transport’s driver portal. With detailed knowledge of the delivery schedules and destinations, the thief posed as the legitimate recipient of the vehicles. According to Steven Yariv, CEO of Dealer’s Choice Auto Transport, the hacker provided all the correct information to the delivery drivers, redirecting the vehicles to alternate locations.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, initially set for delivery in Hollywood, Florida, was rerouted to Miami. Similarly, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan was redirected to a nondescript parking lot instead of its intended destination at Limited Spec Automotive. The thief didn’t just stop at stealing the vehicles; they also sent taunting messages to the owners and the delivery company. In one text, they mocked, “Thanks for the free Maybach dawg,” and in another, “Bro, car already in Dubai, or Europe you guess,” along with a photo showing the removed GPS tracker from one of the vehicles.

The suspect’s audacity extended to sending messages boasting about the thefts, adding a layer of humiliation for the owners and the transport company. A delivery driver even managed to capture photos of the individual at one of the drop-off points, but the police have yet to identify them as a suspect officially.

Both Miami and Miami-Dade police departments are investigating the incidents, and a $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the recovery of each vehicle. Despite the ongoing investigations, the likelihood that these high-value vehicles have already been transported overseas remains high, given the thief’s claim about their international destinations.

This case underscores the vulnerabilities in digital systems and the growing sophistication of modern-day car thefts. As authorities continue their investigations, the incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for robust cybersecurity measures, even in seemingly mundane operations like vehicle deliveries.