Law enforcement detects vehicle theft strategies

A state official said law enforcement has detected two strategies criminals use to steal vehicles from shopping malls.

Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Rafael Cervantes told La Voz newspaper that employees working at shopping mall parking lots are allegedly involved in one of the strategies.

In the second strategy, suspects arrived at the parking lot with a vehicle and stole a second automobile using the first vehicle’s ticket. Eventually, the suspects return for the original vehicle.

The Assistant Attorney General said the authorities are focusing on vehicles left inside parking lots to see if they are involved in crimes.

Although the state official did not provide details on which shopping malls report more incidents, the authorities have been holding conversations with shopping mall managers to discuss the matter.

Criminal gangs dedicated to vehicle theft include at least two individuals. Last year, the agency detected two bands working in Mexicali.

Criminals involved in these rings come from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, or Tijuana, where the stolen vehicles have been found, Cervantes said.

Suspects mainly steal Honda, Kia, and Nissan vehicles, Cervantes said.

The state official asked the public to avoid leaving parking lots at sites without security measures, leaving vehicles in visible spaces, and avoid arriving late at night.

In a recent case, a Mexicali resident requested the public help to find his Hyundai Elantra stolen Saturday from a shopping mall by Lázaro Cárdenas Boulevard.

Christian Badilla shared in a social media publication the vehicle’s pictures.

The victim said the vehicle was stolen although the parking lot has cabins to charge drivers for the service.