Thief flees with SUV as victim pumps tire in Broward

NORTH LAUDERDALE, Florida – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is searching for a car thief they say targeted a victim last month while he was pumping up one of his vehicle’s tires.

According to a BSO press release, the robbery occurred around 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 at an apartment complex located at 8000 Hampton Blvd. in North Lauderdale.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that an adult male was inflating the right rear tire of his black 2020 Chevy Equinox when an unknown adult male approached him and asked if he was inflating his tire,” BSO spokesperson Miranda Grossman wrote in the news release. “The victim responded ‘yes’ and then continued to monitor the air pressure. Once he finished inflating the tire, the victim reported hearing a door open and close. When he looked up, he noticed the person he had just spoken to was sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle and walking away.”

Surveillance video released Monday shows the car thief interacting with the victim before leaving the area in the victim’s SUV.

He was then wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with red letters and red and black shorts.

Anyone who recognizes the car thief is asked to call BSO North Lauderdale District Detective Lisa Sokol at 954-720-2261 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), or submit a tip online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cell phone in the United States.