A New York man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after state troopers say he attempted to steal a 2025 Ford Raptor from a dealership lot in Central Square. The incident highlights a broader pattern of theft targeting Ford F-150 models, which continue to rank among the most frequently stolen vehicles in the country.
New York State Police reported that officers responded to Burdick Ford on East Avenue after receiving a call about a possible trespasser. When troopers arrived, they found Nicholas B. Rodriguez sitting behind the wheel of a 2025 Ford Raptor still parked on the lot. The hood was up, and an external power pack had been connected to the truck’s battery.
Troopers said Rodriguez appeared prepared to bypass the vehicle’s security systems. Inside the truck, they found a laptop and an OBD scan tool, both commonly used in modern vehicle thefts to override ignition controls. According to investigators, Rodriguez refused to step out of the locked vehicle, but dealership staff managed to unlock it, allowing officers to remove him from the pickup.
Authorities noted that the Raptor variant involved was a 2025 model, though they did not specify the exact configuration. High-performance F-150 Raptors have become frequent targets for theft due to their value and capability, mirroring a yearslong nationwide trend that continued into 2025.
Rodriguez was arrested and charged with attempted grand larceny in the second degree, a Class D felony, along with a misdemeanor count of third-degree stalking. Police did not say whether he had any connection to other recent Ford theft attempts, including a string of incidents on Ford-owned lots where multiple suspects either crashed stolen Raptors or were later arrested.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review evidence recovered at the scene.
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