Autoblog

Bogus car hauler stealing luxury autos from dealers in several states?

Dan Roth — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Auctions, Government/Legal

Luxury cars are nice. Most people would consider some kind of sacrifice to own one, while others plant their behinds in Corinthian Leather through ill-gotten gains. When something is desirable, there's no end to the scheming. The latest tactic for driving luxe without earning it is pretty blatant: just show up and take it! Automotive News reports that the FBI is currently looking into an operation that's using the identity of Atlas Towing and Recovery of Illinois, a real, legitimate business, to take luxury vehicles right out from under the noses of dealerships.

The false haulers are apparently showing up at dealers and picking up cars using Atlas Towing's credentials, causing the National Auto Auction Association to send out a warning. Over the summer, Manheim Auto Auctions also got hit with a fake car hauler, and that operation is believed to be connected to the more recent activity. Dealers have been warned to notify the authorities if anyone posing as Atlas Towing and Recovery comes calling and and tries to pick up vehicles. It is pretty slick, though, showing up with a truck and an air of official-ness. Points for cleverness, but it's likely not clever enough to avoid capture eventually.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req, | Image: BringATrailer]

Bogus car hauler stealing luxury autos from dealers in several states? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First free 2010 Camaro lowering kit already distributed

Chris Shunk — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Government/Legal, Chevrolet

This is a real heart breaker. The guys and gals over at the Camaro5 forums are about as dedicated a group as you'll ever run into, and a number of the members have already picked up their hotly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaros. One forum member received a rude awakening as his pride and joy 1LT Camaro was relieved of its 18-inch wheels and tires during the night. The criminals had the audacity to use the Camaro's jack, along with the jack of a Land Rover that was also relieved of its rollers, to commit this heinous crime.

Forum member Number 3 thinks he may have accidentally left the car unlocked, which is obviously a bad idea. For now, the Camaro is resting on three car jacks, and the hope is that the oil pan and exhaust were undamaged during the incident. Bummer. You can bet Number 3 will be scouring the Internet for anyone trying to hock a set of 18s on eBay Motors or Craigslist.

[Source: Camaro5]

First free 2010 Camaro lowering kit already distributed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: FBI busts up $25M car cloning ring

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Safety

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has shut down a car theft ring operating in the U.S. for more than 20 years, causing in excess of $25 million in losses to owners and banks. According to CNN, the ring would clone cars, swiping the legal identity of one car - VIN numbers, tags, stickers -- and applying it to another, stolen car. The cloned car would then be sold to a dealer or consumer, and the countdown would begin: Eventually, most would be discovered as stolen property and confiscated, but the buyer would remain on the hook for the money owed.

For example, a man in Florida bought a Ford F-350 Super Duty for $27,000 last year from a used car dealer. Nine months later, it was tracked down and confiscated, but the bank has told the owner that he's still on the hook for the loan for a vehicle he no longer has.

Although the FBI admonishes, "Folks should be educated enough so that they don't buy a car from a stranger, on the street, or in a back alley somewhere," that might be a bit much, and the Super Duty owner bought the car at a used car lot. All kinds of private and public buyers have been taken, so do all of the research you can, and definitely don't buy your car in a back alley somewhere - the FBI got that much right! Hot tip, Jan.

Have you ever suffered an automobile-related theft? Take our poll after the jump!

[Source: CNN]

Continue reading REPORT: FBI busts up $25M car cloning ring

REPORT: FBI busts up $25M car cloning ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Innovative UK car theft kingpin jailed

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, UK

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]

Innovative UK car theft kingpin jailed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protect your sound system with smarts

Chris Tutor — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Audio, Gadgets, Tuners, Etc., Technology

One of the easiest ways to customize a car is to yank out that factory radio and stick in something with more snazzy looks and more jazzy sound. Unfortunately, thieves know how easily your new stereo can be yanked out.

There have been many variations on the concealment method of stereo protection through the years. One of the most popular being to hide the newer unit behind a nest of wires to fool would-be crooks into thinking someone had beaten them to the prize. But over at Instructables, there's a new twist to the trick.

The key to the hack is to conceal your upgraded stereo behind what looks like your car's OEM unit. There are step-by-step instructions showing you how its done, from mounting the old radio's faceplate on a removable fascia, to making the fakery look even more unappealing by halving a cassette tape for added realism. They used "Christmas With the Brady Bunch," which might work in a Geo Metro in December, but would be probably guarantee your G35 getting busted open in July.

[Source: Instructables via Gizmag]

Protect your sound system with smarts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protect your car: Store those keys out of sight

Alex Nunez — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Our compadre Gary at The Garage Blog was chatting up a friend who specializes in vehicle theft security. One of the things this friend does is helps dealerships guard against thieves. Due to the nature of his job, the fellow hears all about the latest goings-on, and he informed Gary that local Toronto-area residents have increasingly been finding cars missing from their driveways. Not just older rides, mind you -- newer stuff equipped with the latest whiz-bang factory-installed immobilizer systems have also been part of the vanishing act.

The criminal element is nothing if not creative, and what they've been doing is casing people's homes to see if the occupants do what so many people do: keep their keys on a plainly visible, easily accessible rack in the kitchen. A peek through the back door is all it takes, and a quick B&E lets the thief snatch the car keys and drive away calmly and quietly -- immobilizer be damned. If you don't have a garage in which to store your car, you might want to make a point of keeping the keys tucked well out of sight. Sure, it may be common sense, but we all let our guard down at home. What's easy for you is, unfortunately, also easy for some dirtbag with eyes for your machine. No sense making his or her life any easier.

[Source: The Garage Blog]

Protect your car: Store those keys out of sight originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars being stolen in Scotland and returned before morning

Chris Tutor — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

If you car comes up missing here in the U.S., you probably don't want it back once the thieves are done with it. Over in Scotland, they do things differently, even illegal things. Police say someone in southeast Scotland's Borders area is sneaking into houses, taking car keys and going for rides in the homeowners' cars. In this country, that'd be the end of it until the police found your Malibu up on cinder blocks in a bad neighborhood. The Scottish twist, however, is that the next morning all these cars are right where they were parked the day before. The burglar has struck at least eight times, and so far, only one car has ended up crashed.

The only things that tip people their car has been stolen are finding their keys in strange places and discovering more miles on their odometers. Sometimes lots of miles. Until the thief is nabbed, we recommend the Scottish keep their tanks empty and their keys on the nightstand.

[Source: BBC via PistonHeads]

Cars being stolen in Scotland and returned before morning originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thailand gov't delivers crushing blow to Ferrari

Chris Shunk — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Government/Legal, Ferrari

In Thailand, exotic car theft is a pretty common occurrence, and thieves are pretty sophisticated about it, too. First, they make off with the vehicle's important components. Then, after the police seize what's left, the criminals purchase it at auction at about 15% of its value. This is "car laundering," and local officials have caught on to the ruse. Now, rather than auction cars off to the people who stole them to begin with, the government will simply crush what's left behind. Here's an example.

In June, Thai officials seized a Ferrari 456GT that was stripped of its ABS brakes, transmission, wiring systems, and exhaust. In proper condition, the car would be valued somewhere between 30 and 40 million Baht. In its stripped state, it likely would have brought under Bt 5 million at auction. If the original thieves were to re-acquire the car at that low price, and then restore it to working order with its own stolen parts, it could be sold at a tidy profit. So the government decided to make an example of the GT and sell it off as scrap. Enter one heavy excavator, exit one Ferrari 2+2.

It's a shame, really, but Thai authorities are serious about efforts to dissuade car laundering. At the very least, thieves won't be flipping this one for a quick buck...er...Baht.

Thanks for the tip, Gregg!

[Sources: The Nation, WreckedExotics]

Thailand gov't delivers crushing blow to Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit buys wheel locks for Chrysler owners

Chris Tutor — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Chrysler

You know crime is bad when your city wants to give you a free anti-theft device. That's what Detroit is doing for some Chrysler drivers.

Detroit PD says many older Chrysler vehicles, particularly the ones without the Sentry Key system, are so easy to steal, young teens are taking them with nothing more than a screwdriver and a brick. A video found in one stolen Chrysler shows a teenager bragging that he had stolen the car in 8 seconds. DPD says the kids are taking the cars, driving them until their tanks are dry, then finding another.

But after one stolen Jeep, driven by a 13-year-old boy, rammed into a car and killed a woman and her baby during a police chase, the city decided a new strategy was needed. The city is offering residents and workers in Detroit's Eastern District wheel locks for their non-Sentry Key Chryslers in an effort to stop the thefts. Part of the project is funded by State Farm Insurance. The police department is also offering free glass etching to all drivers citywide.

You can watch the report by Fox 2 News in Detroit here.

[Source: Fox 2 News via TopSpeed]

Detroit buys wheel locks for Chrysler owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cops: Loverboy preferred the public's transportation over public transportation

Chris Tutor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toyota

Love makes us all a little crazy sometimes. Some of us, however, a little crazier than others, as evidenced by this story. Police say Antonio Moreno, 31, loved his girl so much he was willing to drive 180 miles round-trip several times a month to see her in Santa Barbara. Dedication to the gal you love is hardly ever worth the attention of the cops, but according to the authorities, Moreno was making these three hour drives in someone else's car. Sorry, someone else's cars. Plural. In fact, about 26 someone else's cars.

Moreno, who was apparently without transportation or license, is accused of stealing cars, mostly mid-80s and early 90s Camrys, in his hometown of Los Angeles. He'd then drive them up to Santa Barbara for some lovin', dumping the Toyotas near his girlfriend's house, then stealing another car to take home. Police say nine stolen Camrys were found near his girl's house, and when Moreno was arrested in L.A., he was driving a 1988 Camry recently reported stolen in Santa Barbara.

So now Moreno faces multiple auto theft charges and if convicted, probably faces some pretty lengthy jail time. At least he'll have his lady to greet him when he gets out...oh, wait. The story ends with, "The woman, who had been trying to end the relationship over the last several weeks..." What? She too good for Camrys?

[Source: The Santa Barbara Independent]

Cops: Loverboy preferred the public's transportation over public transportation originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby GT350 stolen 26 years ago returned to insurance company, not owner

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Government/Legal

From the bible of the collector car world comes a cautionary tale of a stolen Shelby and a good lesson in caveat emptor. John Draneas of Collector Car Market recounts the story of a 1965 Shelby GT350 that was stolen back in 1979. The insurance company paid the owner $6500 and the vehicle was never seen from again. Well, not with its original serial number at any rate. While running a cursory check of eBay, Shelby American Automobile Club Registrar Howard Pardee came across a nice looking '65 GT350. With a little legwork, he discovered that the car had been reported stolen and unrecovered back in 1979. He contacted the eBay seller and that's when things got really interesting.

The seller had purchased the car in 1980 with a reproduction Shelby serial number tag and a seemingly clean New York title. Pardee also tracked down the original owner who was shocked to learn his Shelby was on eBay and more amazed that, although the bidding was only at $121,000, the value of the car might be closer to $150,000 or even $175,000. He contacted his insurance company and the police and wanted his car back. The car was taken off eBay and impounded, but didn't go back to the original owner. The insurance company had already paid off that claim a long time ago. Case closed.

The eBay seller was out of luck too, as he had no legitimate claim to the vehicle unfortunately. He is trying to work out an arrangement with the insurance company so he can perhaps repurchase his car from them and recoup some of his loss. Although he had paid for the vehicle back in 1980, the seller at that time was not legally able to sell the car, as he was an accomplice of the thief. So although he had possession of the vehicle for 26 years and watched the value skyrocket, he is not legally entitled to any of that windfall. Bummer for everybody except the insurance company and the thief ironically, as the statute of limitations has long since passed. A civil suit appears to be the eBay seller's only hope of justice. Read the whole story by following the link.

[Source: Sports Car Market]

Shelby GT350 stolen 26 years ago returned to insurance company, not owner originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car theft "bait" car stolen

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

If this doesn't make you chuckle, chances are nothing will. Dallas police apparently have an APB out for a stolen car with no description and no last known whereabouts. A vehicle used by Dallas police to catch unsuspecting would-be car thieves was stolen over the weekend. The "bait" car had been equipped with cameras, a remote engine kill switch, and some type of tracking system, but still managed to disappear sometime between Friday and Monday. Police were not releasing info about the type of car or the location of the theft because they are holding out hope that they may recover it. They believe it can be returned to their fleet and may be reused on future undercover operations.

This reminds us of the time the D.C. police chief had his car stolen from in front of his house. Police Chief Charles Ramsey was shocked to find an empty parking spot where he had recently parked his black Crown Victoria. At least it was unmarked. Or better yet the case of the stolen Boulder County Sheriff's Deputy K9 patrol vehicle, complete with canine. A suspect was pulled over for speeding and subsequently cuffed and buckled into the passenger seat of the patrol car for investigation of suspected DUI. While the deputy was checking out the suspect's vehicle, the suspect freed himself from the seatbelt, got his hands in front of him and took off with the poor dog in back. At least he was caught soon after and the dog was unharmed. And it can happen in other countries as well. Arab News reported a case of an officer walking out his front door to find an empty parking spot. He had to walk to the station to file a stolen vehicle report on his own car.

Maybe they should consider one of the theft prevention devices we've covered in the past:

[Sources: Dallas Morning News, NPR, Boulder County, Arab News]

Tipster: Richard R

Car theft "bait" car stolen originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indian authorities shut down Hardest Working Man in Auto Smuggling

Chris Paukert — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

In India, car smugglers are apparently a good deal more patient than we can ever recall hearing of in the States. In a case that's less 'Gone in Sixty Seconds' and more 'Gone in Sixty Hours', a man named Ramadoss made it his m.o. to purchase vehicles in Malaysia and Singapore, then dismantle them piece by piece, shipping them to his operation in Chennai (formerly Madras), where he would reassemble them. Doing so saved Ramadoss a mint on customs charges, as he had to pay just 20-25 percent (versus a stifling 118 percent tax). Of course, a bit of elbow grease was required to make money - Ramadoss and his crew sliced up everything, including chassis and bodies using laser cutters, only to re-weld them together at his garages in Chennai for sale to unsuspecting customers.

A police raid of the man's all-too-literal chop-shop turned up 17 vehicles, including everything from a MINI Cooper to a Mitsubishi GTO (read: '3000GT') and an unspecified Mercedes-Benz.

No word yet on what fate will befall the Hardest Working Man in Auto Smuggling, but he has admitted to his crimes and made some financial reparations.

[Source: Mumbai Mirror]

Indian authorities shut down Hardest Working Man in Auto Smuggling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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