A New Jersey used car salesman is dealing with the possible consequences of two thieves robbing his dealership. The man is not only trying to locate the stolen vehicles; He is also trying to keep his dealership license.
In a TikTok with over 112,000 views at the time of writing, used car salesman Greg (@greggotcars) shares what he fears could happen if the cars are not located and he has to check his insurance.
“Last night around 3 in the morning, someone broke into the parking lot, went straight to my office, took two keys and two cars. They took the cars and left,” he begins.
Greg is shaken by the experience and reports that a 2018 Lincoln Navigator and a lifted 2016 Toyota Tacoma were stolen. The dealership doors were forced open, but nothing else was touched, including the cash register.
“The whole front row is empty. I had both cars here. So the cars are gone,” Greg shows.
In addition to losing his cars, he is worried about losing his dealer license.
“It’s a very, very big problem for multiple reasons. The first reason… is that the insurance will cancel me after this. If the insurance cancels me, I can’t have dealer plates. If I can’t have dealer plates, I can’t have a dealership… Possibility of me losing my dealer license because someone decided to come and steal from me,” he shares.
Greg mentions that there is video footage, but says it won’t do much good considering the robbers were masked and didn’t leave any evidence.
“Besides filing a police report and calling insurance, I don’t know what the next steps are… I don’t know what the future is for Greg Got Cars. I don’t know what the future is for my dealership. I don’t know,” Greg confesses.
Greg’s fear stems from having a car stolen last year, when his insurance told him they would write it off if it happened again.
in a follow-up mailGreg said police made little progress and decided to proceed with insurance.
in the third updateGreg puts on the investigator hat after his followers approach him with clues. One of Greg’s followers found the stolen Lincoln Navigator in a facebook group sale of stolen vehicles. He created a decoy profile on Facebook to inquire about purchasing the vehicle.
“He wanted $4,000 for the vehicle, and it was just a van. The location was somewhere in Yonkers, the Bronx, or Queens. Somewhere in New York,” Greg shares.
Considering that Greg’s dealership is in New Jersey, it’s a huge blow to find out that the car is now in New York.
“There’s a justification issue, and that makes things a little difficult. I’m also told the NYPD doesn’t put stolen vehicles at the top of their priority list,” he shares.
Another follower sent in Ring camera footage documenting the possible suspect wearing a hoodie, balaclava and gloves 10 minutes after the robbery occurred.
‘W Research paper Greg, you got this’
Many viewers felt sympathy for Greg as he went through this scenario.
“That’s terrible. I hope everything works out in your favor,” said one TikTok commenter.
“With investigative work, Greg, you’ve got this,” a second commented.
While other viewers commented on different approaches to dealing with insurance companies.
“If you have insurance issues in the future, please contact us. I’ve been a broker for 20 years just insuring dealerships and could probably help you. Good luck,” one offered.
“The way insurance works often seems backwards. You pay premiums year after year to get protection, but the moment you need to file a claim, there’s a risk that they’ll increase your rates or even drop your coverage. It’s hard not to feel like a scam when the service you’ve been paying for suddenly becomes a problem once you actually need it,” added a second.
Several viewers offered suggestions to prevent this from happening again.
“Greg, you should put the keys in a safe,” one suggested.
“Never, ever leave your keys. Put more cameras. Also put a motion sensor light everywhere. An alarm system would be great,” added another.
How to prevent a vehicle from being stolen
Most drivers don’t think about the possibility of their car being stolen until it happens. Owning a vehicle is necessary for most, so having a stolen vehicle can be harmful. In 2025, the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra were the most stolen vehicles, Engine1 reported.
Protecting your vehicle from theft may simply involve some advance preparation. According eufyHere are 10 things you can do to prevent car theft.
- Install a GPS tracking device: A tracking device can provide real-time updates on the vehicle’s location.
- Use VIN engraving: Etching the VIN on the window or major parts of the car can create more barriers for thieves trying to sell. Having the VIN recorded makes the vehicle more traceable and easier to locate.
- Install an alarm system: Once activated, the alarm’s loud noise can deter thieves from committing the theft.
- Use a steering wheel lock: When a thief sees a locked steering wheel, the vehicle becomes less attractive. This extra layer of protection may not be worth it and the thief may skip the vehicle and look for an easier car to steal.
- Secure parking: Make sure the car is parked in a well-lit area or garage.
- Close the car doors: Always remember to close the doors with the windows closed. Making access easier than necessary is a recipe for disaster.
- Remove valuable items: Any temptation or display of valuable items such as a purse will attract thieves. These valuable possessions should be stored out of sight or not indoors at all.
- Anti-theft devices: Drivers can install remote ignition blocks, tire locks or kill switches to deter thieves.
- Activate the immobilizer: Most modern cars will have an immobilizer that will prevent the engine from starting without the proper key.
- Be careful with spare keys: Having the spare key in a safe place is vital. The spare part should not be inside the vehicle itself or somewhere easy to locate.
Taking any of these steps can make all the difference in preventing car theft. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is trying to locate a stolen vehicle. If this happens, drivers should file police and insurance reports, take advantage VIN Tracking Servicesand track online markets.
Engine1 has been in contact with Greg via Instagram and TikTok direct messages. This post will be updated if you respond.