Second G-Wagon Stolen From Downtown Fort Lauderdale Garage in Sophisticated Heist
High-end vehicle thefts raise questions about security and hacking risks in luxury SUVs
FORT LAUDERDALE — Another high-profile vehicle theft is rattling downtown Fort Lauderdale drivers after a second Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon was stolen from a secured parking garage in just the past few months — this time without the key, and with the SUV’s onboard tracking disabled.
Andrew James, a local professional, said his 2020 G-Wagon vanished Saturday evening from the gated parking garage at his office building on NE Third Avenue. Surveillance footage reviewed by police shows a suspect gaining access to the controlled garage, entering James’ locked SUV, and driving off using advanced key-coding techniques.
“They removed the trackers, which takes some expertise,” James told reporters this week. “Apparently there are ways to do it with the VIN number.”
James said Fort Lauderdale detectives informed him that organized auto theft crews are now using key programmers and VIN exploitation to steal luxury vehicles without needing a factory key. “There’s coders that can code a key from a similar car, and they can access the vehicle that way,” he said.
An alarming pattern
Saturday’s theft closely resembles a similar incident from late March, when a 2025 dark gray G-Wagon was stolen from a garage just blocks away at 200 East Las Olas Boulevard.
Both cases share several key details:
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The thefts occurred in gated, controlled-access garages.
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The suspects defeated factory-installed vehicle tracking systems.
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No original keys were used to steal the vehicles.
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The vehicles were Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons, a model currently fetching six-figure prices on the resale and black markets.
Residents losing confidence in parking security
The back-to-back incidents have shaken the confidence of downtown Fort Lauderdale residents and professionals, many of whom routinely park luxury vehicles in the city’s premium garages.
“Well, where is the car safe?” James asked. “If I can’t park it in the lot of a Triple-A building, lock it, and go to work — what do I do? Do I chain it?”
James said he had assumed the building’s garage — a secured facility with controlled access points and security cameras — would provide adequate protection. But with thieves now able to bypass both electronic keys and factory trackers, many are wondering whether any garage offers meaningful security.
Police investigating advanced theft crews
Fort Lauderdale Police are actively investigating both G-Wagon thefts and believe they may be part of a wider regional pattern of sophisticated auto theft targeting high-end European vehicles.
Experts say professional theft crews often rely on specialized devices that can:
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Clone or program keys using VIN data.
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Disable or bypass factory GPS and tracking systems.
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Intercept or mimic wireless signals from key fobs.
Luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Range Rover are often the targets of such crews, who can sell stolen vehicles domestically or export them overseas, where demand for new G-Wagons far exceeds supply.
A call for action
James and other local drivers are now urging Fort Lauderdale officials and garage operators to improve protections, including adding physical barriers, updated security protocols, and educating garage staff about the latest theft techniques.
“There’s not much an individual driver can do against this kind of technology,” James said. “It’s going to take a real security upgrade to make these garages safe again.”
In the meantime, police are urging luxury vehicle owners to:
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Use aftermarket GPS tracking devices.
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Install OBD-II port locks to prevent key programming.
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Park in well-lit, visible areas of garages when possible.
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Remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
As the investigation continues, Fort Lauderdale residents will be watching closely to see whether this troubling trend can be stopped — or whether the next luxury SUV to vanish will be their own.
