Former Avis Employee Charged in $1M Syracuse Airport Car Theft Scheme

Milton W. Thompson III, a former Avis Budget employee at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, is wanted for orchestrating the theft of 47 vehicles valued at over $1 million between June and August. Thompson allegedly exploited his insider access to steal the cars and rent them out across Onondaga County through a network, with authorities recovering 42 of the stolen vehicles so far. He faces grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges, while several other individuals have been arrested for unlawful use of motor vehicles related to the case. The theft scheme went undetected for months due to delayed inventory reconciliation and internal system vulnerabilities, highlighting significant insider risks at the rental company. Avis Budget is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, but Thompson remains at large, and authorities are urging the public to provide any information on his whereabouts. The case underscores the challenges of preventing insider thefts in car rental operations and the need for improved internal controls and real-time vehicle monitoring.