From a theft point of view - this is wildly disturbing.

Link to story:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/ne...heist

Strange News - AP

Man Steals $729K Ferrari After Test Drive

ARDMORE, Pa. - Where do you hide a $729,000 Ferrari during rush hour? That's what police in the Philadelphia suburbs want to know, after a con man drove off with a red Ferrari F50 during a test drive.

The Ferrari F50 — which can hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and tops out at 203 mph — hasn't been seen since.

Police theorize it was hustled into a trailer and quickly shipped overseas for sale on the black market.

The company made just 349 of the eye-popping Italian roadsters — described by one car-enthusiast Web site as "part Batmobile, part ballistic missile" — in 1995 to commemorate its 50th anniversary. It was designed to be a street version of a Formula One race car.

The thief, a nattily dressed man who claimed he had flown up from Atlanta and had a limo waiting nearby, took the test drive Sept. 16 without producing a license. The ID, he said, was in the wallet he had left at the airport.

The salesman from Algar Ferrari in Rosemont first took the prospective buyer for a spin, then let him get behind the wheel. During the test drive, the man — clean-cut and sporting a shirt, tie and apparent Rolex watch — pulled to the side of the road and asked the salesman to drive back to the dealership.

When the salesman got out, the thief sped off.

Police were summoned, but never spotted the vehicle. Now they're looking for the con man, described as a 6-foot, slender white male with reddish-brown hair and glasses.

Lower Merion detectives believe he had help.

"This took a lot of planning," said Det. Charles J. Craig, the lead investigator.

Police are also exploring whether the case is tied to similar Ferrari thefts in North Carolina and Long Island, N.Y.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The thief, a nattily dressed man who claimed he had flown up from Atlanta and had a limo waiting nearby, took the test drive Sept. 16 without producing a license. The ID, he said, was in the wallet he had left at the airport.

The salesman from Algar Ferrari in Rosemont first took the prospective buyer for a spin, then let him get behind the wheel. During the test drive, the man — clean-cut and sporting a shirt, tie and apparent Rolex watch — pulled to the side of the road and asked the salesman to drive back to the dealership.

When the salesman got out, the thief sped off. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How does that happen?
No ID, no drivers licence and they take the car out for a spin?

There was a nice 360 in the dealer around Chicago, maybe i should take it around the block then - i'll return it (that goes without saying) but still...

 

The dudes at Lake Forest Motorsports (Enzo in the front window, and about 40 other Ferraris) are pretty serious and professional... I doubt you could get a test drive in anything there without much more than an ID. Amazing, isn't it?

 

Autoreply by Lanceh:

"I can't reply right, I am too busy cruising for chicks in my new ride"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Autoreply by Lanceh:

"I can't reply right now, I am too busy picking up guys in my new F-150."

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The dudes at Lake Forest Motorsports (Enzo in the front window, and about 40 other Ferraris) are pretty serious and professional... I doubt you could get a test drive in anything there without much more than an ID. Amazing, isn't it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The red Enzo you're speaking of is a customers car - he keeps it there while he is out of town (most of the time) so it's a mutually beneficial arrengement. Final destination of that one is Vegas btw.

The dealership keeps plenty of cars on the premises, but surprasingly, the staff is very friendly - i was actually asked if i'd like to purchase a car there
You're more than welcome to walk around and look (drool at this point) at the cars as long as you don't touch them. You can also see some of the service area from the outside - 360's with engines out, dissassembled Maranellos, Masserattis etc.

Pretty fun experience if you're in for a dose of exotic machinery.

oh, one last thing, they are moving to a new location, but i don't remember when

 

Double AA: I think you forgot to change the autoreply name when you changed the message.

Shouldn't it say:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Autoreply by Mugen Mike and BrewCityR
"We can't reply right now, We are too busy picking up guys in OUR new F-150."
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bartek - they are very nice there, but I highly doubt they'd let anyone drive a car with no license there. Too bad about the Enzo being spoken for. I wondered why it was there 90% of the time and there was no trace of it in the garage the remaining 10%....

I'm not sure when they are moving either, but the new site isn't far away.

 

wtf Do I know you?

Change that. Hurry.

 

Chris N: they have been renting the existing place for over 20 years, the new one they bought.

As far as test drives go, i'm sure they do more than just check the drivers licence They probably make sure than if you brake it, you and your assets will be enough to fix/buy it. And mine, frankly, wouldn't cut it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by El Pollo Diablo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Autoreply by Lanceh:

"I can't reply right, I am too busy cruising for chicks in my new ride"

</TD></TR></TABLE>


Sssshhhhhh

naw man, that ferrari is already in eastern europe. i've got my sites set on a less conspicuous GT2...figure i'll pay for this one since i've gots a bit of extra bank.

 

just saw that chit the other day - people around here are kraaazy
sounds like the work of a professional - good thing he's not looking for ITR's
lol

 

Good job Lance!

The Ferrari dealer in Hinsdale had couple cars stolen from the lot couple years ago right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Good job Lance!

The Ferrari dealer in Hinsdale had couple cars stolen from the lot couple years ago right? </TD></TR></TABLE>

it's just a strange coincidence that i used to live in IL and moved away for a few years. huhuhu

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

it's just a strange coincidence that i used to live in IL and moved away for a few years. huhuhu</TD></TR></TABLE>



Chris - who asks lance to see the secret garage with all the cars....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the man — clean-cut and sporting a shirt, tie and apparent Rolex watch — </TD></TR></TABLE>

i've got all of the above (including the 'apparent' rolex watch).. i wonder if i can just get a test drive.. i'll even return the car!

 

he probibly bribed the salesman to let him drive the car and then give a 'vague description' to police... there is no chance they would let anyone test drive that car without a license, even just for insurance purposes.

that salesman is going to have his *** handed to him.