Police: Men use laptop to reprogram, steal more than 100 cars

HOUSTON – Houston police say they’ve arrested two men accused of using pirated computer software to steal more than 100 vehicles that likely ended up in Mexico.

Authorities say 24-year-old Michael Arce and 22-year-old Jesse Zelaya focused on new Jeep and Dodge vehicles, which attract big money on the black market in Mexico. The men allegedly used a laptop computer to reprogram the targeted vehicles’ electronic security so their key worked.

Both men have court appearances Wednesday. They were arrested last weekend driving a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Police say their months-long investigation was aided by home-surveillance video showing someone with a laptop walking up to a parked Jeep and driving away minutes later.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Police: Men use laptop to reprogram, steal more than 100 cars."