Police in Savannah, Georgia, are searching for a man accused of stealing a $90,000 BMW X5 from a hotel valet by claiming to be a professional basketball player.
The incident occurred at the Hyatt Regency Savannah shortly after midnight on August 14.
According to police records, surveillance footage shows the suspect entering the hotel lobby, then returning to a white Audi to collect belongings.
He then approached the valet stand with a ticket corresponding to the BMW.
Valet workers told investigators that each ticket is unique to a specific vehicle.
The suspect's story and the ticket were convincing enough for employees to hand over the X5.
The BMW Wasn't Even the First Stolen Car
The X5 did not belong to a hotel guest but was owned by a dealership and used as a loaner.
The dealer's tracking system located the SUV about 200 miles away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
It is unclear whether the BMW has been recovered.
Investigators also discovered that the white 2025 Audi A5 the suspect used was reported stolen the previous day.
The Audi was later found unlocked and undamaged in the hotel's parking garage.
Police believe the same man may be linked to another valet theft earlier in August.
In that case, a Toyota C-HR disappeared from another hotel after someone used the owner's retrieval code.
Savannah police have released surveillance images to identify the suspect.
Authorities have not explained how he obtained the BMW's valet ticket.
The case shows that stealing a modern luxury SUV sometimes requires only the right piece of paper and a good story.
