Cadillac Thief Who Stole $1.5 Million in Escalades from GM Lot | Carscoops

      A young man is reportedly facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly stealing multiple Cadillac Escalade V models.

      The 24-year-old, identified as Deon Brooks, already has pending charges for theft related to two local car dealerships. He reportedly retagged the stolen vehicles using cloned VINs before selling them. His bond has been set at $2 million, and if released, he will be required to wear a GPS tether.

      Authorities in Detroit's Macomb County have apprehended Brooks for allegedly stealing Cadillac Escalade V models worth up to $1.5 million from a General Motors corporate lot. This incident marks another legal issue for him, as he is also facing charges for stealing a vehicle from a Chevrolet dealership and fleeing from police in early 2024. The appeal of new GM vehicles appears to be too enticing for him to resist.

      On March 11 of this year, Brooks was taken into custody following a detailed investigation by the Macomb Auto Theft Squad, the Warren Police Department, and the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Team. The inquiry began in December 2024 after Brooks successfully took several Cadillac models from a GM dealership lot.

      Reports from the Detroit Free Press indicate that these vehicles were either brand new, corporate loaners, or waiting to be shipped to dealerships at the time of the theft. A spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer Putney, noted that Brooks allegedly stole expensive Cadillac Escalade V models but did not specify if other vehicles were involved in accumulating the total value of $1.5 million. The starting price for the Escalade V in the US is $159,995.

      Earlier this month, Brooks appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a single charge of operating a criminal enterprise, which has a potential maximum sentence of 20 years. His bond remains at $2 million, and should he post bail, he must wear a GPS tether upon release.

      Authorities claim that he retagged the stolen vehicles with cloned VINs and sold them out of state for profit. During the investigation, police confiscated printers, retagging equipment, forged SOS documents, jewelry, a Chrysler Pacifica, and methamphetamine from him.

      Brooks has a history with law enforcement; he was arrested on February 29, 2024, for stealing a vehicle from the Heidebreicht Chevrolet dealership and fleeing police. Authorities managed to disable the vehicle with a spike strip, but Brooks tried to escape on foot before being apprehended.

      In addition to this theft, he is also accused of stealing vehicles from Serra Cadillac. He faces charges for operating a criminal enterprise related to these thefts and additional charges of unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle, along with three counts of conspiracy to commit unlawful vehicle theft.