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Crackdown on car theft at Atlanta airport

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ATLANTA – Atlanta police are cracking down on thieves stealing cars at the world’s busiest airport.

Earlier this year, FOX 5 Atlanta reported cars were disappearing from the airport at an alarming rate.

The police chief says three suspects have been arrested and the number of stolen cars has decreased significantly.

<div>Travelers exit Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Tuesday, December 21, 2021. The number of air passengers in the United States stood at 2.12 million on December 19, compared to 1.06 million on December 19. the same day of the week a year earlier, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div> <p>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NRpqb8i7C.VB0HwC1h.Msg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_fox_aggregated_articles_807/5daae48 e278e08eedd5af1811626d440 “/></p> <div></div> </div> </div> <div classe=

Officers shared surveillance video that appears to show one of the suspects, Mathew Freeman, hiding on the sidewalk at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Police say you can see him waiting for the right moment to jump into a moving truck and drive away. They call it a “crime of opportunity.”

“He was hanging out on the sidewalk here. Some of our visitors were dropping off or picking up passengers. They were leaving their keys in the vehicle and their vehicles running. He would slide into the vehicle and drive off,” the major said. Kelly Collier explained.

The major says Freeman pulled off the heist three times, but was ultimately arrested while trying to escape on the fourth attempt.

<div>The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on September 10, 2022. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)</div> <p>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BZx9kIe5I9G9lrjE1vO1qg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_fox_aggregated_articles_807/2b519d c2dca3e44ad34b1faa8618d886″/></p> <div></div> </div> </div> <div classe=

The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on September 10, 2022. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

With 30,000 parking spaces at the world’s busiest airport, parking lots are also a popular target.

The major says police arrested Nicolas Pinkston and another man who are believed to be part of a complex operation. This is an international car theft ring that preys on travelers who park at the airport.

“Our downtown detectives did an excellent job apprehending two individuals who were part of a theft ring,” Major Collier said. “It is now extremely simple to program a vehicle key.

Collier says scammers can create boilerplates with an online device in just 10 minutes.

Airport police have deployed more staff to the bridges and upgraded their equipment to prevent crooks from leaving undetected.

“We are putting devices in place to prevent tailgating and we have reduced the amount of time you can stay on the bridge without paying. These arrests are extremely important and it has really stopped or slowed down the car thefts that were happening here,” the major said. said.

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