A Rolls-Royce was brazenly nicked from a Texas valet stand — and police say it led them to a $1.5M luxury car theft ring. How to protect your ride from those looking for ‘an opportunity’

As a result, police say, six stolen luxury vehicles were recovered, along with firearms, body armor and car theft tools. Three suspects were also arrested for theft over $300,000.

Plano police were only looped into the larger investigation after the brazen theft of a Rolls-Royce at a local restaurant days earlier, reports NBC DFW. Here’s what happened, along with more details of the investigation.

Haul of high-end cars

On June 6, a 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre was stolen from the valet stall of a restaurant in an upscale neighborhood, Plano detective Jerry Minton says, after the vehicle owner handed the keys over to staff.

“The suspect saw a targeted opportunity,” Minton explained to NBC DFW in a story published July 2. “They drove up in another vehicle, a white Mercedes, saw where the vehicles were parked and was able to obtain a set of keys.”

As Plano detectives began their investigation, they were alerted by the Texas Department of Public Safety that the 2025 Mercedes S63 AMG at the scene was linked to other car thefts reported in Dallas and Grapevine, according to NBC DFW. Minton says the Mercedes was also stolen, and PPD joined the ongoing case.

“We got in on the tail end of it, after they had already planned for the search warrants,” Minton said.

The six vehicles recovered include a Rolls-Royce Spectre, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Cadillac Escalade-V, Maserati Levante and Audi RS7 — valued at nearly $1.5 million — police say.

Minton says there was no pattern to how the vehicles were stolen. One more was taken from valet parking, he says, but another came from a vehicle transport, while the second Rolls-Royce may have been lifted from a gas station.

“They weren’t targeting one specific method of stealing,” Minton said. “It was: they see an opportunity, they took it if they liked the car.”

The arrested were Oscar Valdez, 28, Miguel Hernandez, 27, and Salvador Hernandez, 29, reports NBC DFW. Plano police say Valdez is a repeat offender with 15 active felony warrants, per the broadcaster, and remained in custody without bond. Meanwhile, both Hernandez men, who Minton says are not related, posted bond.

Drivers of all vehicles must stay vigilant

Even if you don’t drive a swanky vehicle, Minton urged car owners to stay vigilant with regard to potential auto theft.

“If you leave your vehicle, or even if you just get out, don’t leave it running, don’t leave the keys in it,” he warned. “A Honda Civic is as important to that person as the Rolls-Royce is to that owner.”