Thieves Crash Into A Dealership And Make Off With An Ironic Hellcat

In a story that might as well be a plot point from Gone In 60 Seconds, thieves in Ottawa, Kansas, broke into the local Dodge dealership and made off with a barely used 2023 Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak, using another vehicle to crash through the showroom doors in order to make off with the 717-horsepower muscle car. But if that weren’t enough, the thieves led local police on a cross-county chase before crossing into neighboring Missouri. Dodge’s “Jailbreak” marketing may have been right on the money.

Leading The Police On A 50-Mile Goose Chase

Police responded to a burglary call around midnight on Sunday, June 15, with eyewitnesses saying someone had used a car to crash onto the sales floor of Victory Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. The suspects made off with a blue 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak with around 2,600 miles on the clock, then fled north where they encountered officers from the police department in Wellsville, Kansas. A chase ensued, with multiple law enforcement agencies collaborating to stop the Jailbreak.

The Overland Park Police Department even successfully deployed a “tire deflation device,” but the Dodge-driving bandits continued to flee. The Wellsville police continued to give chase until the Challenger crossed the Kansas-Missouri state line on Interstate 435, at which point the pursuit was called off. The Ottawa Police Department made details of the chase public on its Facebook page, soliciting assistance from residents as they search for the suspects. The post includes an anonymous tip website, as well.

Making Off With 70 Grand Worth Of Muscle

When new, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak had a starting price of $71,195 with destination. According to the now-removed listing on the dealership’s website, the car was painted B5 Blue and had just over 2,600 miles on the clock. Although the Jailbreak isn’t the most valuable special edition to come from the automaker, it still hasn’t suffered much depreciation since the Challenger lineup was discontinued in 2023. Right now, SRT Hellcats with similar mileage are trading hands at more than $60,000, while Jailbreaks are demanding between $65,000 and $75,000.

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Unfortunately, the discontinued Challenger and its four-door Charger sibling are also popular targets for thieves. Dodge even partnered with a company called Start Defender to help make the cars more difficult to steal, releasing a plug-and-play authentication device that can be bought at any dealer parts counter. It’s unclear if the target of the Kansas theft had the Start Defender installed – if not, that could have contributed to the suspects’ quick getaway behind the wheel of the powerful muscle car. That $695 device could be the difference between finding your own Challenger where you left it or watching it plow over spike strips and cross state lines on the news – probably with Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie behind the wheel.

Source: Road & Track via Carscoops