Recently, a Cadillac once owned by Steve McQueen was caught up in a theft ring in Colorado that stole the car from a rental company, "sold" it to a new owner - one of the theft ring members - and then re-stole it to claim the insurance. They might have got the idea from London's Nokhiaz Khan, a man who ran a theft ring that stole cars from legitimate owners, resold them, and then stole them again - often numerous times.

The five members of the ring, ranging from in age from 22 to 40 years old, would steal a car in a residential burglary or a carjacking, or occasionally buy one from salvage. Then they'd find a vehicle at a used car dealer that matched the stolen one. Khan's crew would then make the stolen car a ringer for the dealer car by creating a service history, inscribing a VIN number, and creating a matching number plate. Once sold to a buyer, they'd wait a few days and then steal it again, find another ringer, and resell it.

They stole 37 cars worth about £340,000 (roughly $520,000 USD) before they were caught, mostly innocuous runners like Honda Civics and Escorts. Recycling their wares up to three times, they made "in the region of £1.2 million," or about $1.8 million Yankee dollars.

For his illicit craftiness, Khan has received 4.5 years in jail at the hands of London's Southwark Crown Court.

[Source: The Telegraph]