A high-performance Jeep Trackhawk is a dream ride for a lot of car lovers. But for one Florida man, it turned into a nightmare after his SUV became the target of a tech-enabled theft ring operating in Milwaukee.
Police say the alleged thief, Justin Powell, 28, not only stole but flaunted his theft on Instagram, posting a photo behind the wheel of the vehicle in early May with the caption, “This a trophy for me.”
The clear problem? The “trophy” wasn’t rightfully his.
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Larger tech-driven theft ring
The car belonged to Frank Tragesser, who was visiting Milwaukee from Florida to see his fiancée. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was parked outside a hotel near the airport when it vanished overnight.
“It’s probably one of the quickest cars on the road because of that all-wheel drive,” Tragesser told WISN 12 News. “It’s 707 horsepower stock.”
Milwaukee police located the Jeep near a condo a day later. Tragesser says, “There’s a million and one things going through your head when your car gets stolen,” he said. “I’ve never had that happen before.”
Police say the condo where the stolen car was found is tied to Powell’s girlfriend. Inside, officers uncovered a cache of tools straight out of a car thief’s digital toolkit, including two professional-grade key programmers and over 15 key fobs, including one that police say “was programmed to work with Tragesser’s Jeep.”
Powell was arrested and is now facing a string of drug and felony charges, including possessing a firearm as a felon, operation of a vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession of a machine gun.
“It’s been an awful situation all and all,” says Tragesser.
And that’s not all. Prosecutors allege Powell is part of a larger tech-driven car theft ring operating throughout the Milwaukee area stealing, chopping, scrubbing VINs and then reselling the cars.
WISN’s James Stratton tracked Powell to a condo, where a woman claiming to be his girlfriend answered the door. While on the phone with a man claiming to be Powell and calling from the Milwaukee County Jail where Powell is being held, Stratton pressed for answers.
“That’s not my residence, bro,” the man said. “I can’t even tell you who [the key programmers] belong to.”
When asked about the alleged car theft ring, the caller said, “That expletive been going on before I was in jail and after I was in jail, bro. As you interview me right now that expletive going on right now.”
Powell told WISN 12 News he is innocent and denies owning the Instagram account tied to the Trackhawk post. But prosecutors in the case have a different story.
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How high-tech theft works and how to prevent it
According to Milwaukee police, at least 19 vehicles have been stolen using key-fob programmers in just the first three months of this year.
So, how do the thieves do it?
First, they break a window to gain access. Then they plug a device into the car’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located under the steering column. A programmer can generate a fresh key in under a minute, leaving the thieves free to drive off.
This method bypasses immobilizers entirely, especially in models made between 2007 and 2017, like Hondas, Nissans, Infinitis, Dodges, Chryslers, Toyotas and Lexuses. Many of these models don’t include a startup delay after key programming which makes them prime targets.
There are also relay attacks where thieves amplify the fob signal remotely from inside homes to unlock cars parked outside.
And thieves also use CAN (Controller Area Network) injection, accessing the car’s internal network (like through removed headlights) to mimic legitimate start signals.
Online marketplaces list these inexpensive tools, often disguised as other equipment.
Court records paint Powell not as a lone wolf, but as a logistics man in a full-blown criminal enterprise.
“Powell stated his role was to share locations of sought-after vehicles and then members of his crew would come to steal them by use of a key programmer,” according to the complaint.
The ring’s division of labor allegedly includes scouts, who track and send vehicle locations; techs who break in and program keys; and cleaners who then fix and detail the stolen vehicles.
Salesmen then flip the stolen cars to unwitting buyers and middlemen take a cut on each deal.
This all leaves legitimate car owners in the dust as their vehicles disappear (often without a trace) and are flipped. But car owners don’t have to be helpless against thieves.
Here are some simple prevention tips to keep your vehicle safe:
- Keep your vehicle locked and keys safely stowed away
- Use the latest security features available on your vehicle
- Consider registering it with the accredited antitheft tracking system or an electronic engine immobilizer
- Park in a garage if you own a house and have one
- Place all remote FOBs in Faraday pouches to block FOB signals
- Use OBD‑II port locks and steering-wheel locks to prevent access
- If you have a second, less valuable vehicle, park it in front of the more valuable vehicle with no room to maneuver it out
- Consider installing your own retractable parking bollards
- Keep your home’s exterior well-lit
- Check your insurance coverage to see if they reimburse high-tech thefts
Prosecutors in Powell’s case say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests and charges are likely.
This isn’t just a Milwaukee problem; it’s a national and international crisis fueled by modern tech vulnerabilities.
As Justin Powell’s arrest shows, inexpensive key‑programming devices in the wrong hands are turning luxury vehicles into easy targets. While police, insurers and automakers are responding, experts say drivers must act now to protect their assets because convenience can come at a steep cost.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
