Case 6: The Car Washed Auto Theft

EXTREMELY HARD

Over ten months, high-value vehicles vanished minutes after a deluxe wash at Cascade Suds. Insurance flagged a pattern, but no one could prove collusion. Five witnesses, seven suspects—and four culprits working together.

Your mission: Solve the case by answering three questions:

Which four people are in on it? (choose exactly 4)
What is the primary method used?
What decisive evidence links the ring?

Witness Statements

Tanya Wells (Customer): “Attendant waved me to Lane 2 near the staff gate. I noticed a blue wristband.”

Marco Ruiz (Cashier): “Supervisor handled a cash-only deluxe wash. Said the receipt printer was jammed.”

Asha Patel (Neighbor): “Saw an unmarked flatbed idling by the alley on two Thursdays. Driver kept a hoodie up.”

Officer Len Hart: “LPR trail dies under the Harbor Pkwy underpass each time. Looks like a tow assist or plate swap.”

Darryl Cho (KeyCoder Tech): “A guy called ‘Nico’ subcontracted me twice at closing. Paid cash to program fobs curbside.”

Evidence Collected

CCTV – Exit Lane #2 (April): SUV exits via staff gate; temp paper plate; attendant with blue wristband.

Valet Tag Log: Tags 431–438 issued sequentially, but #435 appears twice months apart.

Tow Yard Gate Log: After-hours entries match theft nights. Guest code 7713 used by “H. Petrov.”

LPR Hit – Harbor Pkwy: Stolen sedan seen 17 min post-wash, following an unmarked flatbed.

Timecards – Detail Crew: J. Kim early clock-outs on four theft nights despite closing duties pending.

KeyCoder Invoice #7713: Mobile key van billed on two theft days; customer name “Nico,” paid cash.

Unmarked Flatbed Photo: Same dented fender across three months; plate frame removed.

Shift Sheet – Supervisors: N. Alvarez swapped to closing on six theft nights citing “staffing gaps.”