ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies are investigating after six high-end luxury vehicles were stolen in Orange County this past month, including one owned by a local reality TV star, the sheriff’s office said in a tweet.
According to deputies, two people were arrested and face grand theft and criminal mischief charges in connection with taking two of the cars, but there could be more people behind the crime.
Deputies said five of the vehicles were taken from valets at restaurants along Sand Lake Road as well as hotels in the area.
A gray 2021 Audi Q5 and a 2023 white Ford Expedition were reported stolen from the valet at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, located at 1900 E. Buena Vista Drive, around 11:30 a.m. on May 31, deputies said. According to investigators, valet supervisors told them two sets of keys were stolen the night prior.
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An arrest report shows Joshua Gonzalez and Yamilite Torres-Gomes, a couple, were seen taking those cars, but tracking in the vehicles was disabled shortly after they were taken. The vehicles have since been recovered, deputies said.
Then, around 10:30 p.m. on June 2, deputies said they responded to Norman’s Orlando, a fine dining restaurant located at 7924 Via Dellagio Way, in reference to a black and gray 2022 Rolls Royce Phantom stolen from the valet. Later that same night, investigators said they learned of a gray 2019 BMW 330 reported stolen from another valet around 11 p.m.
A sixth car, a Mercedes G Class, was also taken in the 200 block of S. Park Ave. in Winter Park on May 17.
One of the vehicles stolen was a 2022 Bentley Bentayga, owned by real estate broker and “Ladies of Orange County” star Cora Johnson, according to an incident report.
A report shows Johnson had parked the SUV, valued at around $300,000, with a nearby valet service at a parking garage at 8351 International Drive near ICON Park on May 17.
Johnson said that the valet attendant told her that the car was taken, but he hadn’t called the police about it.
“He just gave me a dumbfounded look. I said, ‘Did you call the (explicit) police?’” Johnson told News 6. “He’s like, ‘Well, they knocked the cones down.’ I said, ‘You’re more worried about the cones than our almost $300,000 car?’”
Deputies said that the valet attendant told Johnson the lockbox with her keys inside had been pried open.
Johnson also had around $23,100 worth of belongings inside the car, according to the report.
It is not known whether or not Gonzalez and Torres-Gomes were involved in the other luxury car thefts, but the sheriff’s office said they are working on leads connecting to all the cases.
Deputies urge valet operators to remain vigilant and residents and visitors to not leave valuable belongings in their cars when dropping them off at valet services in the area.
No other information is available at this time.
In the last month, 5 high-end luxury vehicles (like those pictured below) have been stolen from valets at restaurants along Sand Lake Rd & hotels in the area. A Mercedes G Class was also stolen in Winter Park. Detectives are working leads, but valet operators should be extra… pic.twitter.com/AybLZE2jhd
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) June 16, 2023
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