Phoenix car salesman arrested for alleged theft against employers and customers

PHOENIX — A man was arrested for allegedly committing numerous thefts against Phoenix-based car dealerships he worked at and their customers, authorities said.

Eduardo Rodriguez is charged with fraud schemes, theft and forgery after selling dealership cars to customers and keeping the payments, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in a press release on Tuesday.

Rodriguez would also sell the same car to more than one customer, as well as sell bogus warranty policies.

The dealerships discovered the thefts and contacted ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, which discovered the man in one instance had purchased a vehicle from a dealer he worked for and financed it before selling the vehicle privately to an unsuspecting victim.

Rodriguez’s former employer was required to buy the car back after he defaulted on the loan, authorities said.

Detectives with the agency also discovered Rodriguez’s other alleged thefts, according to the release.

ADOT advises people to take the time to ask questions and do research when buying a used vehicle privately or through a dealer, adding its best to walk away if the seller is acting suspiciously, being evasive or uncooperative.

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