The Million-Dollar Airport Car Theft: How an Ex-Employee Allegedly Orchestrated a Massive Rental Car Heist

In the quiet corridors of Syracuse Hancock International Airport, where thousands of travelers pass through daily, an extraordinary crime was slowly unfolding this summer. Between June and August, an astonishing 47 rental vehicles—worth over $1 million—vanished from the Avis Budget lot, not through sophisticated hacking or a dramatic midnight heist, but allegedly through the calculated actions of a former employee. Milton Thompson III, a 31-year-old who once worked for Avis Budget Car Rental, stands accused of orchestrating what might be one of the largest vehicle theft operations in the airport’s history. The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police Department has now launched a manhunt for Thompson, who faces serious charges including grand larceny and scheme to defraud. The case represents not just a significant financial loss for the rental company but also raises troubling questions about internal security measures and employee monitoring at airport facilities.

What makes this case particularly remarkable is the methodical nature of the alleged crime. Investigators believe Thompson didn’t simply steal these vehicles in a single bold swoop; rather, he allegedly executed the thefts systematically over a two-month period, possibly exploiting his insider knowledge of the company’s operations and security protocols. According to reports from the Associated Press, authorities suspect Thompson used his previous employee access privileges to remove the vehicles from the airport lot, effectively turning them into unauthorized revenue generators by re-renting them at various locations throughout Onondaga County. This wasn’t merely theft for personal use or immediate profit—it appears to have been a sophisticated operation with its own informal rental network operating completely outside the legitimate business structure. The scheme’s complexity suggests careful planning and an intimate understanding of the rental company’s inventory tracking systems, allowing the operation to continue undetected for weeks.

The investigation began in earnest when Avis Budget officials finally noticed the discrepancies in their inventory and reported dozens of missing vehicles to law enforcement earlier this year. By that point, Thompson had allegedly already established a parallel rental operation, with vehicles being distributed and rented throughout the county. While police have remained tight-lipped about exactly how Thompson was able to remove so many vehicles from a supposedly secure lot—or how such a significant number of missing assets went unnoticed for so long—the case points to potential vulnerabilities in the company’s asset management systems. The scale of the theft raises important questions: How could nearly 50 vehicles disappear without triggering immediate alarms? Were there accomplices working within the company? And perhaps most importantly, what safeguards failed to prevent or detect this alleged criminal enterprise during its two-month operation?

The investigation has made significant progress, with authorities successfully recovering 42 of the 47 stolen vehicles. This recovery effort represents a substantial win for law enforcement, though five vehicles remain missing. Additionally, police have made multiple arrests of individuals allegedly connected to the scheme, suggesting Thompson may have operated with a network of accomplices who helped distribute and manage the stolen rental fleet. The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office has joined forces with airport police to prepare charges against all involved parties. While authorities haven’t explicitly detailed how they tracked down the missing vehicles, the recovery of so many suggests they may have been operating relatively openly—perhaps with renters who were unaware they were using stolen vehicles through an unauthorized rental service. For Thompson himself, the consequences could be severe, as grand larceny involving property valued over $1 million can carry substantial prison time in New York State.

What remains unclear is Thompson’s employment history with Avis Budget and whether he acted alone in initiating the scheme. Police have not disclosed how long he worked for the company before allegedly launching his theft operation, nor have they specified whether he was terminated or resigned before the thefts began. These details could prove crucial to understanding both his motives and his methods. Did Thompson leave on bad terms, with the theft representing an act of revenge? Or was this a calculated criminal enterprise planned while still employed? Equally important is determining whether Thompson had accomplices within Avis Budget who might have assisted by disabling tracking systems, falsifying records, or otherwise helping to conceal the missing inventory. As the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police Department continues its investigation, these questions remain central to fully understanding the scope of the alleged criminal operation and preventing similar schemes in the future.

The case serves as a sobering reminder of the unique vulnerabilities that businesses face from insider threats—particularly those with access to valuable mobile assets like vehicles. For airport operations and rental car companies specifically, it highlights the critical importance of robust inventory management systems, regular audits, and proper employee vetting procedures. As authorities continue their search for Thompson, they’re asking the public for assistance, providing contact information (315-455-3500 or PD_Supervisor@sraapd.org) for anyone with information about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, travelers passing through Syracuse airport might look a bit differently at the rows of rental cars waiting on the lot, now knowing that dozens of them had briefly disappeared into an unauthorized underground rental network, right under the noses of one of America’s largest rental car companies. The manhunt continues for Thompson, described as a 31-year-old Black male, as investigators work to recover the remaining vehicles and unravel the full extent of this audacious scheme that turned airport rental cars into a million-dollar criminal enterprise.