Multi-state car theft ring busted in Greenwich

Tiffine Kyte, 37, of Johnstown, PA, was charged last week for her role in a sophisticated multi-state vehicle theft ring. Using tech-driven cloning techniques, Kyte and her accomplices systematically stole high-end vehicles from dealerships across the Tri-State area.

A Tri-State Operation. Since March 2024, the group has targeted 20 vehicles worth an estimated $2.4 million. The spree spanned New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut with confirmed hits in Old Saybrook, Glastonbury, Ridgefield, Coventry, and Fairfield. Kyte's run finally hit a wall in Greenwich, where she was arrested in November 2025. Following her extradition on January 15, 2026, she now faces a $275,000 bond.

The Playful Distraction. The thieves relied on a calculated distraction tactic. According to police warrants, Kyte—often seen in a distinctive red winter hat, gray jacket and white leggings—would enter a dealership with an accomplice dressed in a UPS uniform who introduced himself as "Dexter." While "Dexter" requested to start a high-end model, Kyte would occupy the salesperson’s attention with "playful" behavior. This window of distraction allowed the duo to access the vehicle’s interior and diagnostic port undisturbed. They didn't drive off immediately; instead, they returned the following night to steal the car.

The Fob Cloning Technique: The hardware behind the heist is a handheld Autel device. By plugging the tool into a vehicle’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, the thieves can clone a key fob’s signal in under 60 seconds. This bypasses traditional security, allowing the thieves to return later with a "legitimate" digital key and drive away without a trace of forced entry.

Between the Lines: While authorities remain tight-lipped on which specific Greenwich dealership was hit, the group's taste for $100k+ SUVs suggests that no luxury lot on West Putnam Avenue was safe from 'Dexter' and his red-hatted sidekick.

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