'Brazen': Police say teens, young adults behind theft of rental cars at Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities are searching for a group of young men who they say have stolen several rental cars off the lots of major car rental companies at Philadelphia International Airport.

Investigators say the pattern of thefts began in January, when groups of two-to-six people would sneak onto the rental car lots that are often protected by fences, gates, or barriers.

Police believe the suspects have several methods of stealing the rental cars, including simply using the keys that were left inside the vehicles by some of the car rental companies.Investigators are looking into a series of thefts and robberies from car rental companies located near the airport.When the rental companies enhanced their security due to the thefts, police say the group resorted to threatening the parking lot attendant at gunpoint to open the exit gate. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESA video shared by the Philadelphia Police Department shows several vehicles lined up at the exit booth, when the driver of the first vehicle demands the gate to be opened at gunpoint.Authorities are searching for a group of young men who they say have stolen several rental cars off the lots of major car rental companies at Philadelphia International Airport.

Four vehicles are seen on video driving through the open gate. Police estimate the suspects to be between 16 and 22-years-old, often wearing dark clothing and face masks.Frank Vanore Deputy Commissioner of Investigations with the Philadelphia Police Department held a briefing Friday and explained, "There’ve been 17 of the 23 that they’ve gotten away with recovered in Southwest Philadelphia area.