Thieves have boosted dozens of rental cars from Philadelphia International Airport this year

Well over two dozen vehicles have been boosted from rental car lots at Philadelphia International Airport this year, and police are asking the public to help stop the rash of brazen robberies and thefts.

Police officials on Thursday said there have been 25 auto theft incidents since January from inventory lots at Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Hertz, and other operators. Five have been at gunpoint.

The rental car industry weathered a severe vehicle shortage during the pandemic, but thieves have found a bountiful inventory in Southwest Philadelphia over the last six months. Police could not provide the total number of stolen vehicles across the 25 episodes, but thieves are typically making off with multiple vehicles. A video released by the department showed one incident in which thieves took four cars.

Rental car companies often leave keys in the cars on the lot due to the large inventory, and only some of the lots are fenced in, while others are simply protected with gates or other barriers, said Cpl. Jasmine Reilly, a police spokesperson.

“They have several methods to steal cars from the lots after gaining access to the lots,” Reilly said in a release. “After the rental companies found a way to improve security issues, these offenders have resorted to taking cars, point of gun, and exiting through the booth at the front gate.”

Video released Thursday shows what police describe as a pattern of choreographed robberies.

The offenders come in groups of two to six, commandeer three to four cars, and then line up at the exit gate. The driver of the lead car then brandishes a gun at a rental company worker and tells them to open the gate, allowing the cars to speed out of the lot. In the video, the suspects made off with what appeared to be a Dodge Charger, a Ford Mustang, a Jeep, and a Chevy.

The airport referred questions to the Police Department.

Some rental car companies have stopped leaving the keys in the cars, Reilly said. Police have also increased patrols around the lots, while detectives are working to collect more surveillance footage and identify the offenders. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the thefts can call the department’s Major Crimes Unit at 215-685-9130 or text the department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).