Thief Uses Crane to Lift Jeep off Indiana Lot

The heist of the 2008 Wrangler took six minutes

A thief used a crane to literally lift a Jeep Wrangler off of a northern Indiana car lot Sunday.

A surveillance camera at LaPorte Chrysler captured someone driving a truck with a crane onto the lot, then circling around to park next to the 2008 Wrangler. The thief hooked the Jeep with the crane and loaded it onto a trailer.

The entire operation, which occurred at 6:40 a.m. Sunday, took all of six minutes.

Matt Magnusen, the dealership's general manager, said the vehicle likely was heavily damaged considering the thief clamped the roof, put the jaws through both doors and lifted it.

The two-door Wrangler is bright red with a snow plow. It had been sold and was sitting in the dealership's back lot.

Magnusen said the car is still missing, but police are working on a couple of leads.

Contact Us