INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Thieves made off with at least four classic Chevrolets during a show at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the cars' owners say.
The Indianapolis Star said it learned of three more thefts after reporting Wednesday on the theft of a 1970 Chevelle from a trailer parked outside a hotel. Another man said someone broke into his trailer, but, fortunately for him, he had left his 1947 Ford Coupe parked in front of the hotel.
The stolen vehicles include a 1949 Chevrolet truck, a 1987 Chevrolet Silverado, a 1979 Chevy Short Box that was later recovered, and the Chevelle. All the owners had brought their cars to Indianapolis for the GoodGuys 3rd Speedway Nationals, and all were stolen from locked trailers outside hotels.
Dennis Quin, who was staying at a Ramada hotel, said a loud noise outside woke him at about 7 a.m. Sunday, and when he looked out the window, he saw someone driving away in his custom truck.
"I was mad as heck and shocked," Quin said. "They went over the overpass on the expressway driving like an idiot. It's something I'm not going to forget."
Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the National Crime Bureau, which investigates vehicle theft and insurance fraud, said the thieves have probably not cut the vehicles up for parts. He said they are almost certainly aware that classic cars and trucks are more valuable in one piece.
