A man stole a $90,000 BMW at a hotel in Savannah, Georgia, after convincing valet workers he was a professional basketball player with multiple vehicles parked there. Police are now asking the public for help identifying him.
According to WJCL, the theft happened around 12:30 a.m. on August 14 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. Surveillance images released by the Savannah Police Department show the suspect as part of its investigation into several vehicle thefts involving downtown hotels.
Investigators say the man initially arrived in a white Audi, went inside the hotel, then returned to the vehicle to collect his belongings. He then approached the valet stand and presented a ticket for a gray 2026 BMW X5 that did not belong to him.
WJCL also reported that the man told valet workers he was a professional basketball player and had multiple vehicles parked at the hotel. Employees gave him the BMW after accepting the ticket, allowing him to drive away without raising immediate suspicion.
The BMW Belonged to a Dealership
The stolen BMW was a dealership loaner being used by a hotel guest, according to WSB-TV. Investigators later tracked the SUV to the 2100 block of North Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Savannah police notified authorities in Myrtle Beach and requested that the BMW be entered into state and national stolen vehicle databases. WJCL also reported that police described the suspect as a Black man between 20 and 30 years old. No arrest has been reported at this time.
The Suspect’s Audi Was Stolen Too
The vehicle he arrived in was apparently stolen as well. Earlier on August 14, officers recovered an unlocked 2025 Audi A5 from the Hyatt’s parking garage after learning it had been reported stolen by another agency the previous day.
The roughly $30,000 Audi did not endure any exterior damage, WJCL reported. Savannah police contacted the agency that originally reported the vehicle stolen on August 13 and had it towed from the hotel.
Investigators still have not made it clear where or how the Audi was stolen.
Police Ask for the Public’s Help
The Savannah Police Department made a post on Facebook asking if anyone recognizes the suspect or has information about the BMW theft to contact CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Savannah Police Department’s mobile app.
The case remains under investigation, and police have not publicly identified a motive beyond the alleged BMW theft.
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