Video shows arrest of suspect following Miami Beach luxury vehicle theft investigation, cops say

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — New video obtained exclusively by Local 10 News on Tuesday shows the arrest of a man Miami Beach police accuse of using a sophisticated scheme to steal high-end vehicles during transport.

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Police arrested 30-year-old Hakam Shahin, of Oakland Park, on June 26 near the 5600 block of Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, jail records show.

According to investigators, the scheme targeted owners shipping expensive vehicles out of state.

Police said hackers accessed dispatch information for vehicle transport companies, obtained customers’ information and then posed as the legitimate towing company to steal the vehicles.

“A hacker hacks into the dispatch board, obtained the information of the victim, posed as if they are the tow company who were hired to transport the vehicle, and most times the victim never sees their vehicle again,” Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess said.

Police said surveillance video shows a tow truck picking up a Range Rover valued at about $125,000 from a victim’s location.

“The video shows the tow truck company picking up the vehicle from the victim’s location,” Bess said.

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Authorities said the tow truck drivers are often unaware they are participating in a theft.

Investigators said Shahin is linked to multiple cases.

In one incident, a victim was told she would have to pay $100,000 to get her stolen Porsche back, according to police.

Police said they have recovered several of the stolen luxury vehicles.

To help prevent similar thefts, investigators recommend that owners place a secondary GPS tracking device inside vehicles before shipping them.

Jail records show Shahin is facing one count each of first-degree grand theft of more than $100,000, organized scheme to defraud and threats/extortion.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

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