Officers scour seaports for sports cars, similar to those stolen in Pompano Beach

January 7, 2010

As thieves in Pompano Beach target sports cars, a customs official on Thursday said such vehicles often are seized at seaports each year before hitting a lucrative market for stolen property abroad.

"This goes on nationwide at all seaports," said Jose Castellano, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "If something gets stolen here, they may try to ship it somewhere else."

About 160 stolen vehicles -- valued at more than $7 million -- were confiscated at Port of Miami during the customs agency's 2008-2009 fiscal year, Castellano said.

The vehicles, which include sports cars, SUVs and motorcycles, often are on their way to the Caribbean and Central America, among other destinations, he said.

Seaport officers, as well as Miami-Dade police and the Broward Sheriff's Office, scour seaports for stolen property, he said.

Meanwhile, the Broward Sheriff's Office is still investigating the thefts of four Ford Mustang Cobras between mid-November and late December in Pompano Beach. Thieves drove away or towed the cars from the driveways of four homes.

Detectives say it's unclear why thieves are targeting Cobras or what they plan to do with the vehicles.

Officials have recovered one car: a red 2004 Cobra with a black convertible top, which was equipped with a LoJack car security system. It was found at a muffler shop in South Miami after it was stolen Dec. 8.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the thefts to call Broward Sheriff's Detective Carol Singstock at 954-786-4553 or Crime Stoppers of Broward County at 954-493-TIPS (8477). Calls to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.

Juan Ortega can be reached at jcortega@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4701.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/browar ... 4682.story