Exeter Police Investigate Interstate Vehicle Thefts

EXETER, NH — The Exeter Police Department continues to investigate the theft of two high-end vehicles valued at $50,000 each from Foss Motors, a local automotive dealership that was also targeted by thieves several months ago.

The investigation into the latest thefts began on the morning of May 31 when Exeter police responded to the dealership, located at 133 Portsmouth Avenue, after receiving a report of two stolen vehicles described as a white 2024 Dodge Durango SRT 392 and a gray 2021 Dodge Durango SRT. Additionally, two license plates — one from New Hampshire and the other from Massachusetts — were also reported stolen from vehicles in the parking lot and placed on the two vehicles taken by the suspects.

During the investigation, police reviewed surveillance camera footage from a nearby business that showed three men being dropped off by a dark-colored Chevrolet sedan outside that establishment. A review of additional surveillance video from another business showed three individuals walking into the south entrance of Foss Motors just after 4 a.m. and the gray Dodge Durango can be seen leaving the south entrance and heading toward Route 101. Seconds later, the video shows the white Dodge Durango exiting the same entrance and heading in the same direction. The suspects appeared to hide their identities by covering their faces with hoods and wearing gloves.

A witness also later reported that the white Durango struck his passenger side mirror when the vehicle passed him on the Route 101 off-ramp to Interstate 95 in Hampton. After traveling through the toll, the witness reported that the gray Durango passed him on the on-ramp to I-95 south and that the vehicle had a smashed rear passenger window. It was also reported that one of the Durango’s that passed the witness displayed a dealer plate belonging to Foss Motors.

The recent theft case follows another incident in February in which a white 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and a red 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat were stolen from the Foss Motors lot. The vehicles were each valued at more than $76,000 and later recovered in Boston, Mass.

“Being a community located right off Route 101 and close to Interstate 95 has many advantages, but we’re also susceptible to interstate crimes such as these. The investigations into the recent high-end car thefts at our local dealership has shown that the actors are coming up from Massachusetts cities and then bringing the cars back down into that state to sell. We will be looking to collaborate with both Massachusetts and federal authorities on these federal crimes and use all of our resources to find those involved,” Exeter Police Chief Stephan Poulin said.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Exeter Police Department at 603-772-1212. Anonymous tips can also be made to Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling 603-431-1199 or online at seacoastcrimestoppers.com.

Submitted by Chief Stephan R. Poulin, Exeter Police Department