Harlingen airport police investigate after owner tracks stolen truck to Brownsville
Harlingen, TX (KRGV) — A Port Mansfield man got his truck back after it was stolen from a parking lot at Valley International Airport.
Matthew Steffen flew out of the airport on Oct. 14, and came back five days later to find his Ford truck missing.
The Harlingen Valley International Airport Police Department is still investigating.
"When I didn't see it, I opened up my Ford app and found it was in Brownsville. Then I panicked and contacted the airport police and went from there," Steffen said.
Steffen said his truck's maintenance app has a live GPS tracker and he used it to help police find it.
He said Ford told him it would release a black box to the investigator so they can figure out what time the truck left the airport and check cameras.
Harlingen Airport Director Tony Nevarez said airport police watch the parking lot 24/7 and use patrols, cameras, access control and a perimeter fence to protect vehicles. Nevarez said thefts are uncommon.
"And as long as I've been here and as long as the chief's been here, we haven't had any other incidents except for the one that we had last week," Harlingen Airport Director Tony Nevarez said.
Steffen said the truck had a new dent in the bumper and a scratch on the front when he got it back. He said he still wants to know how it ended up away from the airport.
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