Receive News, Politics, and Entertainment Headlines Each Morning.
Sign Up
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — Thieves that have hit at least three Bay Area auto dealerships were caught on camera driving off in high-end vehicles.
Michael Zaheri , owner of Formula One Motors in San Jose says his surveillance camera clearly captured the faces of seven men who stole five of his cars in the early morning hours Friday after the thieves went straight for the key cabinet.
"They used the fob to locate which car is flashing, and as soon as they found out which car they want, they took those specific cars," Zaheri said.
The same type of robbery also happened at Stevens Creek Mercedes Benz, about a mile away. Eight cars were stolen in that incident.
Suspects who hit Autobahn Mercedes dealership in Belmont Sunday morning drove off with nine cars.
"The suspects broke into an outbuilding that had key boxes. They broke into the key boxes, took the keys and then stole the vehicles from the lot," Belmont Police Captain Patrick Halleran told KPIX 5.
It's a one-of-a-kind car, that used to be owned by a one-of-a-kind star. One of LeBron's rides just sold for $90,000.
Walking through showroom at Marshall Goldman, there is no shortage of exotic cars to choose from, but there's something special about this car and it's not the manufacturer.
While the comments about the paint job haven't been great on social media, the car is absolutely stunning in person.
It's a special painted matte pearl white, the back taillights tinted black, white leather interior with TV's in the back and power rear seats.
It only has a mere 9,000 miles on it, which is considerably low for a car from 2010.
The car was priced to sell at $89,900, a good price for anyone who wants a BMW 760Li, as they are hard to come by.
It's a car that is fit for a king. But if you are thinking about buying it, you're too late! It's already been sold.
Follow WKYC's Brandon Simmons on Twitter:@216Brandon
Read or Share this story: http://on.wkyc.com/1uzUL7I
Used-car prices are sliding, a boon to penny-pinchers, but troubling for new-car sales.
The auto industry sales recovery in recent years means millions of used cars, many coming off lease, are starting to flood the market. The result is a decline in used-car prices that zoomed sky-high after the recession. And the decline is leading to talk that new-car auto sales growth may be peaking.
"We're going to see a tremendous increase in used-car supply over the next couple of years," says Larry Dominique, an executive vice president of auto-pricing site TrueCar.
That used-car cascade could dampen new-car sales in three ways:
•Less valuable trade-ins. Car shoppers may find their trade-ins are worth less than they expected when they go to buy new vehicles. Thatmeans they'll have to shoulder larger new-car loans or forgo the purchases.
•More expensive leases. Lease rates for new vehicles are based on predicted resale value.As resale prices fall, automakers adjust predicted depreciation schedules and have to raise lease prices.
•More attractive used cars. In recent years, used-car prices were so high that car shoppers found they could buy a new one for not much more. Now the pendulum is swinging back, says Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wholesale prices were down 0.4% in August vs. a year ago, down 1.6% from July and "prices should continue to trend down as supply outpaces demand," writes Tom Kontos of Adesa Analytical Services, which tracks wholesale prices for used cars, in a note to the industry.
At retail, the average used car sold at a franchised auto dealership went for $10,883 last month, down 1.6% from a year ago and 2.4% from July, says CNW Research.
Lower used-car prices are a delayed response to the new-car market's revival from the recession: From a bottom at 10.4 million in 2009, new-car auto sales are on track to break 16 million this year.
Fewer trade-ins in the recession caused wholesale used-car prices to soar more than 25% to a peak in May, 2011, before leveling off, according to Tom Webb, chief economist at Manheim Consulting. August was the fourth straight month of declining wholesale prices, but he says talk of pricing free-fall is "premature."
"We're definitely seeing prices fall," says Duane Paddock of Paddock Chevrolet in Kenmore, N.Y. The decline is real, he says, but it's "not like Niagara Falls. We've seen a gradual drop."
Not every region has seen falling prices yet. Pete Greiner of Greiner Ford and Lincoln in Casper, Wyo., says prices remain stubbornly high for the used vehicles most in demand in his energy-rich area: pickup trucks. Prices are "high, high, high" at the auction where he buys his inventory, he says.
"I don't care if I get arrested; I'm going to save this baby"
SAN ANTONIO — When Angela Radtke saw a one-year-old baby locked in a hot, parked car in an HEB supermarket parking lot, she didn't hesitate to take action.
Despite warnings from security and the apprehension of others, Radtke smashed through the front windshield with a tire iron. She then crawled into the car through broken glass and unlocked door to free the baby, sustaining cuts to her arms.
"Idon't care if I get arrested; I'm going to save this baby," Radtke said.
HEB Surveillance footage revealed the baby was in the car nearly 40 minutes, according to police. The one-year-old boy was taken by EMS to Methodist Children's Hospital and treated for dehydration. The child will be placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
Police questioned Radtke afterwards, but she was soon released due to a Texas "Good Samaritan" law.
Witnesses at the scene said HEB staff tried to reach the parents on the store's public address system, but the father did not appear until some time later.
Police told KENS the father stated that he forgot the baby was in the car. He is now being charged with child endangerment, a third-degree felony.
Read or Share this story: http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/texas-news/2014/09/21/san-antonio-hot-car-angela-radtke/16029447/
BOULDER – A car stolen Friday afternoon with two dogs inside has been recovered, according to a tweet from Boulder Police. Both dogs are safe and have been returned to their owner.
Cheryl Firby's gray Audi station wagon was stolen Friday afternoon near the corner of North Broadway and Alpine Avenue. She left the car running so she could keep the air conditioning on for her two Border Collies. She says she was in the store for less than 10 minutes, but when she came outside, the car and dogs were gone.
PREVIOUS STORY: Car stolen with 2 dogs inside
The car was found on Saturday in the 2800 block of Broadway. A Boulder resident told police that she saw the dogs in the Audi Friday evening and took them in overnight. She later learned from news reports that they were stolen.
Boulder Police are processing the car for evidence. They say they don't have any suspect information at this time.
No additional information about the stolen car or dogs is available due to the pending investigation, according to Boulder Police.
Used-car prices are sliding, a boon to penny-pinchers, but troubling for new-car sales.
The auto industry sales recovery in recent years means millions of used cars, many coming off lease, are starting to flood the market. The result is a decline in used-car prices that zoomed sky-high after the recession. And the decline is leading to talk that new-car auto sales growth may be peaking.
"We're going to see a tremendous increase in used-car supply over the next couple of years," says Larry Dominique, an executive vice president of auto-pricing site TrueCar.
That used-car cascade could dampen new-car sales in three ways:
•Less valuable trade-ins. Car shoppers may find their trade-ins are worth less than they expected when they go to buy new vehicles. Thatmeans they'll have to shoulder larger new-car loans or forgo the purchases.
•More expensive leases. Lease rates for new vehicles are based on predicted resale value.As resale prices fall, automakers adjust predicted depreciation schedules and have to raise lease prices.
•More attractive used cars. In recent years, used-car prices were so high that car shoppers found they could buy a new one for not much more. Now the pendulum is swinging back, says Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wholesale prices were down 0.4% in August vs. a year ago, down 1.6% from July and "prices should continue to trend down as supply outpaces demand," writes Tom Kontos of Adesa Analytical Services, which tracks wholesale prices for used cars, in a note to the industry.
At retail, the average used car sold at a franchised auto dealership went for $10,883 last month, down 1.6% from a year ago and 2.4% from July, says CNW Research.
Lower used-car prices are a delayed response to the new-car market's revival from the recession: From a bottom at 10.4 million in 2009, new-car auto sales are on track to break 16 million this year.
Fewer trade-ins in the recession caused wholesale used-car prices to soar more than 25% to a peak in May, 2011, before leveling off, according to Tom Webb, chief economist at Manheim Consulting. August was the fourth straight month of declining wholesale prices, but he says talk of pricing free-fall is "premature."
"We're definitely seeing prices fall," says Duane Paddock of Paddock Chevrolet in Kenmore, N.Y. The decline is real, he says, but it's "not like Niagara Falls. We've seen a gradual drop."
Not every region has seen falling prices yet. Pete Greiner of Greiner Ford and Lincoln in Casper, Wyo., says prices remain stubbornly high for the used vehicles most in demand in his energy-rich area: pickup trucks. Prices are "high, high, high" at the auction where he buys his inventory, he says.
Former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas was killed in an overnight car crash in Nashville, Tenn.
He was 36.
According to Metro police, Bironas was involved in a single-vehicle crash in the 800 block of Battery Lane around 11 p.m. Saturday.
Bironas lost control of the SUV he was driving while traveling at a high rate of speed, and the vehicle went off the road and hit several trees before ending up in a drainage culvert, upside down.
Bironas was transported Vanderbilt University Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival.
Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said Bironas had turned on Battery Lane from Franklin Pike, and appeared to be headed home, not too far from where the crash occurred.
Aaron said there was no evidence of alcohol on the scene.
Bironas married Rachel Bradshaw, the daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in June. Aaron said a Metro police chaplain was with her shortly after the crash.
Bironas kicked for the Titans for nine seasons. They released him in March.
The team said in a statement early Sunday morning that it was "deeply saddened" to learn about Bironas' death.
"Rob made a significant impact as a player in his nine years with the team and more importantly touched many lives in the Nashville community off the field," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Rachel, and his family during this very difficult time."
He had 1,032 points in his nine-year career, just 28 points behind Al Del Greco, the top scorer in the history of the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Titans organization, and he made 85.7 percent of his field-goal attempts (239 of 279) to rank fourth in NFL history in accuracy.
Bironas made a franchise-record 11 game-winning field goals, including a 60-yarder against the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 that remains the longest field goal in Oilers or Titans history.
Bironas worked out for the Lions earlier this week, and worked out for the Buccaneers earlier this offseason.
The former Titans kicker was also known for his community outreach in the Nashville area. In 2008, he started the Rob Bironas Fund, which donated to organizations focused on supporting children.
A statement was posted on Bironas' social media accounts confirming his death hours after the wreck.
"We appreciate your respect for the family's privacy and your prayers at this time," it read.
It's w/ heavy hearts that we confirm the passing RB # 2 We appreciate your respect for the family's privacy and your prayers at this time.
— Rob Bironas (@RobBironas) September 21, 2014
Wyatt writes for The (Nashville) Tennessean.
Staff writer Brian Wilson contributed to this report.
