Within the 12 months of America’s 250th birthday, and the a hundredth birthday of its most famous stretch of highway, some thieving ne’re-do-wells stole two Corvettes and a Camaro from the 2026 Hot Rod Power Tour, and damaged a couple of others. Something American stolen on America’s birthday? Seems on brand for 2026. Greater than 8,000 cars initially launched into Hot Rod magazine’s celebratory road trip, to honor Route 66’s centennial, from Joliet, Illinois to Tulsa, Oklahoma. But to thieves, 1000’s of high-dollar cars driving in packs and parking en masse is sort of a hungry lion watching a herd of wildebeest.
The thieves struck just because the tour was kicking off, while lots of the people partaking within the tour were sleeping at a Holiday Inn & Suites in Joliet. Two Corvettes, one in every of which was a C7 Z06 with a Z07 package, and one Camaro were stolen, in accordance with CBS, but a Chevy SS, one other Camaro, and a Dodge Challenger were damaged.
Nobody was caught but this wasn’t an impulse crime, it was planned
This type of crime hurts not only financially but emotionally. Automobile enthusiasts pour every thing into their cars, especially in the event that they’re taking those cars on cross-country road trips with other enthusiasts. “People should step up and work a bit harder as an alternative of taking from other people. What’s unsuitable with participating in humanity and giving as an alternative of taking?” said the C7 Z06 owner, who selected to only be identified as Michael, per CBS.
Michael was driving within the tour along with his brother-in-law, who’s automotive was also stolen. His brother-in-law’s automotive was present in Dolton, Illinois, nevertheless it had sadly already been crashed. Joliet police coordinated with Dolton police, however the latter said that many individuals fled the crash and nobody was caught.
Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English said that while nobody was caught, nor do police have any suspects they’re willing to share, this looks as if a coordinated effort. The entire owners of stolen cars still have their keys, so this was likely a planned theft with key fob-cloning devices. Police are encouraging anyone with any information to contact the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force at 815-724-4677 or by email at tcat@joliet.gov. Hopefully, not less than a few of the owners can get their cars back unscathed.
This Article First Appeared At www.jalopnik.com
