Police Hunt Athlete Imposter in $90K BMW Theft

Police in Savannah, Georgia, are searching for a man who allegedly posed as a professional basketball player to steal a $90,000 BMW X5 from a hotel valet. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on August 14, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency hotel. According to authorities, the suspect approached the valet stand, presented a ticket for a gray 2026 BMW X5, and claimed to be a professional athlete with multiple vehicles at the property. Hotel staff reportedly handed over the luxury SUV, which belonged to a local dealership and had been loaned to a guest. The man then drove away in the vehicle. Investigators later tracked the stolen BMW to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Before taking the BMW, the suspect was observed in the hotel lobby removing items from a white Audi. Police discovered that this Audi had also been reported stolen, but it was found unlocked in the hotel's parking garage the following morning with no visible damage. Authorities believe the same individual may be connected to another vehicle theft that occurred just over a week earlier. On August 6, 2026, a guest at a nearby Fairfield Inn had her 2019 Toyota CHR stolen from the valet stand.