Man arrested for stealing luxury cars valued at $2 million from hotel in Miami Beach

The Miami Beach Police arrested a man accused of leading a luxury vehicle theft ring valued at around 2 million dollars.

The arrested individual, Gregory Sean Yearty Jr., 24 years old, was detained on April 21 and faces multiple charges, including grand theft and burglary of an occupied structure.

The theft of those luxury cars, which included brands like Rolls-Royce, Mercedes G-Wagon, and Ferrari, took place in the parking lot of the exclusive hotel The Setai, located on the famous Collins Avenue.

The case began to take shape on July 24th, when several cars were reported missing from the hotel premises, known for being a luxury destination frequented by affluent tourists.

According to investigations conducted by the Miami Beach Police, the security cameras were essential in tracking Yearty's movements.

In a surveillance video recorded around 2:00 am, the suspect is seen crawling into the hotel valet area, a space where the keys to guests' vehicles are stored. After taking several keychains, he exited in the same manner, crawling out.

He then headed to the parking lot, where, according to authorities, he met with two accomplices who have not yet been identified. Together, they managed to steal at least two high-value cars.

But Yearty's criminal activity didn't stop there. A few hours later, before 6:00 am, the man returned to the same spot, repeated the same maneuver, and stole two more cars.

"Literally, he slipped into the valet key room. He took about four different keys and then used a rented vehicle to steal them," said Police Officer Christopher Bess to WSVN.

Authorities stated that once Yearty took the keys, he and others used a rented black Cadillac Escalade to drive around the parking lot before some of them got out of the SUV and left in the other vehicles.

The detectives said they traced the rental Cadillac's history, which eventually led them to the young thief, who has several offenses dating back to last year, according to Miami-Dade jail records.

The investigation that followed the incident lasted for several months. The detectives worked hard to identify the culprit, gathering evidence from security cameras and interviewing witnesses of the event.

According to CBS News, under pressure from the investigation, Yearty chose to voluntarily turn himself in to the police at the Miami Beach headquarters, where he was arrested without incident.

He appeared before the bail court on Tuesday. He faces four counts of grand theft and burglary of an occupied structure, with an ongoing investigation.

At this moment, he/she remains behind bars in the Miami-Dade County jail.

The police chief, Wayne A. Jones, praised the work of his team and emphasized the importance of this arrest in the context of a rising number of luxury car thefts across the country.

"Miami Beach is not immune," he declared, but clarified that those who come to the city to "abuse our residents and visitors will have to be held accountable."

The arrest of Yearty has highlighted a growing issue in the city: the theft of high-end cars, a crime that has increased nationwide in recent years.

Authorities warn that organized gangs remain a threat and that preventive measures must be taken to protect both residents and tourists.

This incident has also raised concerns among residents and visitors of Miami Beach, who expressed their unease on social media about the occurrence of such crimes even in an exclusive place like The Setai.

Other users urged for increased security in the parking areas and luxury hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions about Luxury Car Theft in Miami Beach