Grand Theft Auto at the 2010 NYIAS

The world's most important motor shows take place in Europe (Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris), but when the New York International Auto Shows opens each year in April, European manufacturers make a logistic effort and send their new additions over the Atlantic. Once arrived in New York, the cars are expected to be safe. Well, not this year. After the NYIAS shootings, another event has marred this edition of the auto show.

Six BMWs destined for the New York International Auto Show were stolen from a processing center at the New Jersey port, while being prepared for the transfer to the New York show. Among the cars stolen were a 535i xDrive, a 650i, a 750Li and a rare 550i Sophisto Gray, featuring a special new hue of surface finishing. This particular Sophisto painted car is claimed to be worth USD 90,000 alone.

According to the New York Post, the cars disappeared in three separate incidents. The first heist happened on March 13, three weeks before the opening of the New York Auto Show. On that night the 550i Sophisto, the 535i xDrive and the 650i were stolen. A 750Li was stolen on Monday night. Two other unnamed models disappeared from the New Jersey port as well. How does an inside job sound to you? To us, it sounds the most plausible.

BMW representatives told the New York Post that they had "provided all the information to the authorities." Until now, no stolen car has been found. There's an upside for BMW in this though. If it made crap cars, no one would have bothered to try stealing them in the first place.