Miami Beach Car Thief Nabbed in Airport Sting
Miami Beach, Fla. (WSVN) — Authorities have apprehended a man believed to be the mastermind behind a series of high-profile luxury car thefts in Miami and Miami Beach. Zakria Khan, a 24-year-old Miami resident, was arrested on Friday afternoon after a dramatic end to his alleged criminal escapades at Miami International Airport.
Khan’s arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a series of brazen heists involving high-end vehicles. According to the City of Miami Police, Khan employed a sophisticated scheme to pilfer luxury cars, including Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and Ferraris, from valet services at upscale hotels like the historic Eden Roc in Miami Beach.
Miami Police Sgt. Oscar Baquedano addressed the court on Friday, revealing the scope of Khan’s operations. “The theft of vehicles, especially high-end ones, has been rampant,” Baquedano said. “He re-titles these vehicles and sends them to other countries.” The total estimated value of the stolen vehicles is nearly $2 million.
Detectives detailed Khan’s modus operandi, which involved stealing keys from valet boxes, then returning shortly afterward to make off with the vehicles. “This method of stealing cars has become a new trend,” Baquedano noted. “Valet companies have been specifically targeted, with keys lifted and cars stolen within a short timeframe.”
The investigation, spanning multiple jurisdictions, has linked Khan to several high-profile car thefts. Evidence suggests that stolen vehicles were either towed to a storage facility in Hollywood or transported to parking garages in Brickell, often sporting fraudulent Montana license plates.
Khan’s alleged criminal activities came to an abrupt halt when he was apprehended at Miami International Airport. Authorities caught him just moments after he disembarked from a flight arriving from New York. “We’ve been searching for him for a while,” Baquedano said. “His flight from New York was a significant lead.”
In court, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Maria Espinosa Dennis questioned Khan about his financial status. When asked if he had a bank account with any funds, Khan responded negatively. Despite his alleged involvement in high-dollar thefts, Khan claimed to have no money to his name.
Further complicating his case, Khan had a ticket booked to San Salvador on the day of his arrest, suggesting he might have intended to flee the country. Baquedano described Khan as a “flight risk,” emphasizing the seriousness of the charges against him.
In addition to the luxury car thefts, Khan also faces charges related to possession of machine guns and short guns. He remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
