TAUNTON, Mass. — Surveillance video at Hermes Auto Sales shows what appears to be a group stealing two cars and peeling out from their lot overnight this week.
Tuesday morning, co-owner Max Astakhov pulled into the used car dealership and noticed something was wrong.
“I immediately saw two empty spots on my lot,” he said. “I saw tire tracks kind of like pointing out of the dealership, and then I immediately knew what it was.”
He shared the surveillance overnight on Tuesday with Boston 25.
Story continues below Trending Shorts
The video appears to show a group of hooded individuals sneaking around the cars, hiding behind them from oncoming headlights on Broadway in Taunton, and hopping into two cars.
They were able to start up both and peel out of the parking lot.
“We were scared, upset, and frustrated at the same time,” said Astakhov. “You have to have some skills and special equipment for that. It’s not just random people walking by.”
Astakhov said the two stolen cars were both 2019 Infiniti Q50s.
He also claimed the same make and model was stolen two months ago. The same car was also stolen from their lot two years ago.
Astakhov continued, “It’s very easy to make a key for this vehicle. It’s that easy that someone can break into it and, you know, make one without not even minutes.”
Worcester police warned the public in July about five Infiniti Q50’s that were stolen in the city over a two-month window. They believed the culprits were programming key fobs.
Astakhov claimed he filed a report with Taunton police.
Boston 25 reached out to Infiniti who expressed concern for their vehicle owners and shared ways to minimize car thefts.
<i>The safety and security of our clients is a priority for INFINITI. An increase in auto thefts is an issue affecting many communities, and as thieves become more sophisticated, we are working to improve the security systems in our vehicles. To help minimize vehicle thefts, we recommend owners park their vehicles in well-lit and secure areas, and ensure the vehicle is locked at all times with all key fobs in a secure place outside of the vehicle. We encourage owners not to leave their key fobs in their vehicles, including any spares, as lockout protection could prevent the doors from locking and enable the vehicle to be started.</i>
— Infiniti spokesperson
Astakhov estimated Tuesday’s loss to fall around $45,000.
He finished, “Everybody felt like we are not kind of protected... Instead of, like, taking care of my customers, I’m dealing with stolen cars.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
