A tire-melting monster Mopar like the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a special car for those fans who think there’s no such thing as too much power. It’s so appealing, in fact, that several car thieves decided to help themselves to six Dodge Hellcats in around 40 seconds from a Kentucky dealership. So how did they make off with the six supercharged SRTs in under a minute? 

How did the car thieves steal the Dodge Hellcats?

The thieves broke into a Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Somerset, Kentucky. They then stole the cars using the vehicles’ keys and drove the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats out of the showroom. 

According to WHAS11, one of the Hellcats already had the keys onboard, which made taking the car even more straightforward. Before the thieves departed with the ill-gotten Hellcats, they applied license plates to the new Dodge models. 

What happened after the heist?

The thieves took off into the night, but police later caught up with four of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats on a nearby highway. When authorities attempted to perform a traffic stop, the thieves tried to flee. A police officer in the high-speed chase said the Hellcats “accelerated to speeds in excess of 180 mph.”

As the chase continued, one of the thieves, Cavese Jones, 19, drove over a spike strip countermeasure, according to local authorities. When the car came to a stop, police arrested Jones. The other three Hellcats from the chase managed to escape. 

However, even with a sub-one-minute stealing spree, police have already recovered five out of six of the Dodge models in Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee. Good thing, too; the dealership manager told WHAS11 that “the six cars totaled nearly $600,000.” Unfortunately, the last supercharged Dodge model is still missing. Still, the supercharged SRT cars aren’t exactly known for subtlety. 

Are Hellcats stolen a lot?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS’) loss investigation department, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HDLI), reports that the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Charger are stolen five times more than the average for 2016 to 2018 model year cars. 

Specifically, Hemi-powered Dodge Chargers topped the list, with around 544 claims over a two-model year span. The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat had 529 theft claims, just ahead of the Infiniti Q50 Sedan’s 525. 

Why is the Hellcat so powerful?

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a sought-after vehicle primarily due to its vast power reserves. It produces as much as 717 horsepower in the Hellcat and 797 in the Hellcat Redeye, courtesy of a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine. 

Moreover, past models are similarly powerful. The first iteration, a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, produced 707 horsepower, instantly establishing it as one of the most powerful production cars in the world. 

Can you still buy a Hellcat?

Instead of stealing a Dodge Hellcat, getting arrested, and doing some jail time, fans can still buy one. Unfortunately, 2023 is the last year for Challenger and Charger models. Dodge will discontinue the vehicles after it releases its celebratory “Last Call” models.