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In a striking incident in Savannah, a man allegedly crafted an elaborate story before driving off in a high-end vehicle. Savannah police are seeking public assistance to identify a suspect involved in a reported luxury car theft. Authorities indicate that the individual claimed to be a professional basketball player before allegedly making off with a $90,000 BMW. This case is now part of a broader investigation into vehicle thefts related to valet services at downtown hotels.

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Records from the Savannah Police Department reveal that the BMW was reported stolen on August 14 from the Hyatt Regency Savannah, located at 2 W. Bay St. According to police, the suspect entered the hotel lobby, returned to a white Audi to collect his belongings, and subsequently returned with a valet ticket for a gray 2026 BMW X5. The police report indicates that he informed valet staff that he was a professional basketball player with several vehicles parked at the hotel. Valet employees clarified that each ticket corresponded to a specific vehicle, and surveillance footage captured the man presenting the BMW ticket before departing around 12:30 a.m.

Authorities confirmed that the stolen BMW was a loaner vehicle from a dealership, being used by a guest at the hotel. Investigators later traced the SUV to the 2100 block of North Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Savannah police alerted Myrtle Beach officials and requested the BMW be registered as stolen in both state and national databases.

Savannah Police Discover Another Stolen Vehicle Linked to the Case

A white Audi associated with the theft raised additional concerns. Earlier that same day, Savannah officers discovered an unlocked 2025 Audi A5 in the Hyatt’s parking garage, learning that another law enforcement agency had reported it stolen on August 13. Police communicated with that agency and arranged for the approximately $30,000 vehicle to be towed. Records do not specify how or where the Audi was originally stolen.

The BMW theft is part of a series of vehicle-related incidents reported at hotels in downtown Savannah during August. Police records detail a separate case from August 6 involving a black 2019 Toyota C-HR, which a guest had entrusted to valet service at the Fairfield Inn on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. When the guest attempted to retrieve the vehicle using a code, hotel staff were unable to locate either the Toyota or its key.

What Steps Are Police Taking to Locate the Suspect?

Valet records indicated that someone had used the retrieval code at 12:06 a.m., which was over nine hours before the guest claimed she first sent it. The system did not reveal the originating phone number, and the key remained logged as checked in but was absent from the valet lockbox. Officers conducted a search of the garage but could not locate the approximately $18,000 Toyota. Efforts to review surveillance footage were reportedly impeded by malfunctioning garage cameras and limited access to other camera systems.

Savannah police described the suspect as a Black man aged between 20 and 30 years old, sharing images on Facebook in hopes of obtaining leads from the community. Records show no arrests have been made, and it remains unclear whether the BMW or the Toyota was ultimately recovered. The investigation continues.