Unbelievable Security Lapse Sees Toyota Stolen, Recovered, Then Stolen Again

An Atlanta-area Toyota owner experienced an automotive nightmare when her RAV4 was stolen not once, but twice, from the service department of Stone Mountain Toyota by the same thief within 24 hours. The shocking security breaches have left the owner baffled and have drawn sharp criticism, adding to existing scrutiny of the dealership.

Eula Archie, a loyal customer who had purchased four previous vehicles from Stone Mountain Toyota, had brought her fourth-gen RAV4 to the dealership to address a persistent battery drainage issue. Her ordeal began when she received an unexpected call from Gwinnett County police informing her that her SUV had been found abandoned on Stone Mountain Parkway, near the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary. Archie was unaware her vehicle was even missing, believing it to be secure at the dealership.

Lightning Strikes Twice Due To Glaring Lapses

Dealership surveillance footage showed an unidentified man wearing a mask casually entering the facility through an unlocked door. He was seen checking other vehicles on the lot before wandering into the employee break room, where he reportedly helped himself to a snack. He then located the keys to Archie’s RAV4 in the service area and drove the SUV out through a service garage door. “Out of all those brand-new, beautiful cars on the lot, somebody was after mine,” Archie told Atlanta News First. “Why? I don’t understand.”

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After the first theft, police recovered the undamaged RAV4 and had it towed back to Stone Mountain Toyota. The following day, the same thief brazenly returned. Apparently still in possession of the key fob from the initial incident, he once again made off with it. Police later located the vehicle for a second time after it was abandoned.

Archie expressed her profound disbelief at the repeated security failures. “I just couldn’t believe it. I still think I’m dreaming,” she said. “Those people let someone come on the lot and take it twice.” According to reports, the dealership offered no explanation or apology for the incidents. The situation prompted a Gwinnett County police officer to remark, “I’ve had vehicles get stolen, but I’ve never seen this much incompetence.”

Dealership Already Under Investigation

The choice of Ms. Archie’s older model RAV4 was also perplexing, especially with newer and potentially more valuable vehicles, including a Toyota GR Supra, reportedly present in the service area.

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This double theft adds to a growing list of concerns surrounding Stone Mountain Toyota. Atlanta News First discovered that the dealership is already under investigation by the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, which has received 20 complaints about the business over the past two years.

When approached, the dealership’s manager reportedly declined to comment on Archie’s case or the ongoing state investigation.

Source: Atlanta News First via Carscoops