MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile police detained two people early Friday after officers were told someone appeared to be breaking into vehicles at Mullinax Ford on Airport Boulevard, according to the Mobile Police Department. The pair ran when officers arrived but were caught, police said.
As of Friday, no one had been arrested or charged, and the investigation was continuing.
What police say happened
Officers received a call at about 3 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, reporting two males who might be breaking into vehicles at the dealership, located at 7311 Airport Boulevard in west Mobile, according to an MPD news release.
When officers got to the lot, the two were still there. They tried to flee on foot, but officers were able to stop and detain them.
During the investigation, officers learned the two had been pulling on the door handles of vehicles at the business, police said. The department did not say whether any vehicles were actually opened, whether anything was taken or damaged, or how the activity was first spotted.
Police have not released the ages or names of the two people who were detained.
Quick facts
- When: About 3 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
- Where: Mullinax Ford, 7311 Airport Boulevard, Mobile
- What: A report of two males possibly breaking into vehicles
- Outcome so far: Two people detained after trying to run; no arrests announced
- Investigating agency: Mobile Police Department
Detained is not the same as arrested
Police said the two were detained, not arrested. The difference matters.
A detention is a temporary stop that allows officers to hold someone briefly while they investigate whether a crime has been committed. An arrest is a formal step in which a person is taken into custody, usually to be charged and booked. Officers may release a person who has been detained, issue a citation, or make an arrest once they have gathered enough information.
Police said Friday that the investigation was still underway and that no arrests had yet been made. Anyone who is charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What Alabama law says
Under Alabama law, unlawfully breaking into and entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or felony is a Class C felony, which can carry a sentence of one to 10 years in prison for an adult. Depending on the circumstances, people accused of trying car doors on a lot may also face charges such as attempted breaking and entering, criminal trespass, or theft if property is taken. Running from officers can bring additional charges.
Police have not said what charges, if any, could be filed in this case.
Car break-ins remain a focus for Mobile police
Vehicle break-ins are among the most common property crimes in many cities, and they are a recurring problem in Mobile. Often called “car hopping” or “door-handle checks,” the practice typically involves people walking through parking lots, apartment complexes or neighborhoods at night, pulling on door handles to find vehicles that have been left unlocked.
Earlier this week, at the Mobile City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, Police Chief William Jackson presented the department’s September Officer of the Month award to Officer Christian White of the 2nd Precinct. On Sept. 19, White caught two people in the act of breaking into vehicles and recovered two stolen firearms. Jackson said the arrests that followed allowed investigators to clear about 90 vehicle burglary cases across the city.
Police have not suggested any link between that case and Friday’s incident at the dealership.
About the dealership
Mullinax Ford sits on Airport Boulevard in west Mobile, one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors, home to several car dealerships, shopping centers and restaurants. Dealership lots, with rows of vehicles parked overnight, can be targets for thieves looking for unlocked cars or valuables left inside.
How to protect your vehicle
Law enforcement agencies across the country offer the same basic advice to reduce the chance of a break-in:
- Lock it every time. Many vehicle thefts and break-ins involve unlocked cars. Check the doors even when parked in your own driveway.
- Take valuables with you. Don’t leave purses, wallets, electronics, shopping bags or cash in view.
- Never leave a gun in the car. Firearms stolen from vehicles are a major source of guns used in other crimes. If you must leave one in the vehicle, secure it in a locked safe or lockbox out of sight.
- Take your keys and key fob. Never leave a spare key or fob inside the vehicle.
- Park in well-lit areas. Lighting and visible security cameras can discourage thieves.
- Report suspicious activity. If you see someone pulling on door handles or looking into parked cars, call 911 rather than confronting them.
If your vehicle is broken into
- Don’t touch more than you need to. Avoid handling door handles, windows or items that may have been moved until police have had a chance to look.
- Call police. Report the break-in even if little was taken. Reports help investigators spot patterns and connect cases.
- Make a list. Write down what is missing, including serial numbers for electronics and firearms if you have them.
- Check for video. Ask neighbors or nearby businesses whether their cameras captured anything, and share it with police.
- Cancel cards and change locks if needed. If wallets, cards, garage openers or keys were taken, act quickly to protect your accounts and home.
How to report information
Anyone with information about Friday’s incident or other vehicle break-ins can contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211 or send an anonymous tip by text to 844-251-0644.
South AL News will update this story if police release more information, including any charges.