Authorities in Illinois busted an auto theft ring, some of which were made up of cousins and siblings, that involved more than 200 vehicles worth more than $4 million, NBC5 Chicago reported.
According to police, luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs and Cadillacs were stolen after they had been returned from a lease. The cars were then re-tagged with Canadian and out-of-state VINs, which were used to apply for new titles in Illinois.
How did they do it? According to cops, they posed as transport workers with car carrier trucks, showing up at car dealerships with what seemed like the right paperwork for dealers. When cars are returned to a dealer from a customer’s lease, the car is often picked up and taken to auction, so the procedure all seemed fine to dealership personnel.
But, such a large volume of applications for these cars aroused suspicion and, after a little while, investigators turned up 100 fake titles. The thieves then began stealing Social Security numbers instead of using fake VINs, but authorities were ultimately able to arrest and charge 21 people in connection with the ring.
“While it may not be perceived as the most heinous of crimes, auto theft has increasingly become a more sophisticated and organized crime involving not just the theft of a vehicle, but also other types of fraud such as identity theft, forgery, and loan fraud,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Off this massive heist, dealerships will be putting in place some new procedures when the transport trucks show up to prevent being taken for a ride.
But how can individuals best prevent their prized wheels from being stolen? It’s tough to foil the really sophisticated thieves. But there are things you can do to dissuade the common knuckle-head car thief, or the thief trying to break into your car to steal your stuff.
1. Always park in a well-lit, populated area, such as a busy parking lot or secure garage. Not only is this safer for your car, but it is also safer for you walking to and from it. Don’t assume the leafy suburban street is a safe spot. That’s a favorite spot for car thieves.
2. Double check that your doors are locked, windows are rolled up and never leave an extra key in or around your car. If you plan to leave your car all day, consider unhooking the car’s battery cables.
3. Do not store anything of value in your car. Not only is it an open invitation for crooks, but car insurance won’t cover these items if they’re stolen.
4. Think about installing a GPS-enabled device that can instantly track your car, if you’re one of the unlucky ones and your car is stolen. Not only can this reduce your insurance premium, but modern devices allow you to find your car in the process of being stolen, rather than after it’s been stripped for parts.
5. Don’t park at the beach or a park and move valuables from the car to the trunk. Thieves stake out these places, and will see you, making the move an invitation to steal your car and or your stuff.
Want to win a new car or some cool car stuff from AOL Autos? We just gave away our first car, a 2012 MINI Countryman. Check out how you can win a car, new tires or maybe a radar detector in the next few months, and meet the winner of our MINI Countryman, courtesy of AOL Autos. Stay tuned for more giveaways!
Featured Gallery
The Corvette Z06’s aluminum frame will be produced in-house at Chevy’s Bowling Green assembly plant. The chassis is lightweight, but incredibly robust — the automaker claims that it is “essentially unchanged” for use in the C7.R racecar.
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Stripped of nearly all of its composite body panels, the chassis of the Z06 is nearly entirely constructed of aluminum alloy. Note that the integrated aluminum roll hoop and windshield surround, comprising the passenger safety cage, are completely constructed of lightweight aluminum.
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The right (and left) front clip have integrated brake scoops to force air into the back of the brakes for cooling. This cutaway Z06 is fitted with an optional ceramic brake package featuring six-piston aluminum monobloc calipers clamping down on lightweight rotors that are 15.5 inches in diameter up front. The front tires are 285/30ZR19.
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This rear three-quarter view provides a clean look at the left rear wheel and composite brake package. While two-piece steel rotors are standard, those who upgrade will find four-piston aluminum monobloc calipers clamping down on lightweight rotors that are 15.3 inches in diameter in the rear. The rear tires are 335/25ZR20.
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A clean side view of the C7 Corvette Z06. The extensive use of aluminum is evident, as the composite skin has been pulled back to the middle of the driver’s door to reveal the bright, lightweight corrosion-resistant alloy. Note that the mass of the LT4 V8 engine is set very low and behind the front wheels — this configuration improves balance that pays dividends in the handling department.
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A nice, square shot of the front of the C7 Corvette Z06. The supercharged, 6.2-liter generates a lot of heat. As a result, nearly the entire front end is dedicated to scooping cold air through its angled water-to-air radiator. The engine air intake is angled towards the passenger side, where it breathes through the fender.
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A square look at the rear of the new C7 Corvette Z06, with its quad-pipe exhaust and massive rear tires. The exhaust system’s flappers, which control flow, are seen on the outboard pipes. Just outside that, mounted under the rear aluminum bumper, are the brackets for the exhaust hangers.
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This is the left front corner of the chassis, looking directly at the aluminum bumper reinforcement. Note the unique aluminum skid at the bottom, protecting the suspension and bottom of the engine. The plastic scoop, to the left of the image, feeds cold air into the engine’s radiator.
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Standing over the LT4, a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with an Eaton supercharger. The engine breathes from the passenger side of the vehicle, with the airbox located just in front of the belt-driven alternator.
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A nice, clear view of the LT4, a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing “at least” 625 horsepower and 635 pound-feet of torque. The integrated 1.7-liter Eaton supercharger is in the “hot V” between the banks of cylinders.
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Looking towards the front left wheel from the front of the Z06, the aluminum double-wishbone suspension is in plain sight (Chevrolet calls it a Short/Long Arm, or SLA, suspension). The large black cylinder, running down at an angle, is the magnetorheological damper that is part of the adaptive control suspension system. While the anti-roll bar (in black) is visible, it is nearly impossible to see the transverse composite leaf spring pressing against the lower control arm.
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The base of the windshield, or A-pillar, is a combination of aluminum alloys. The components are welded and bolted into place, with gussets to reinforce and reduce stress on the complex joints. The darker gray piece, to the left of the image, is the mounting bracket for the braking system’s master cylinder.
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This is a great view of the left front quarter panel, clearly showing the cast aluminum component (it has gridded lines on it) containing the suspension mounting points. The curved frame rail at the bottom is hydroformed aluminum, while the aluminum above is sheet that has been cut. The silver drum is the master cylinder, with a clear brake fluid reservoir on its top. Note the sticky Michelin tires.
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Hidden inside the right-front quarter panel, on the outside of the frame rail and behind the right front wheel, is the oil reservoir for the dry sump lubrication system. Open the hood, and you can see the yellow dipstick mounted on its lid.
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Nearly everything in the image is shiny aluminum — but it’s not that simple, as Chevrolet is using a variety of alloys depending on the strength and weight requirements. Most everything in this image is extruded, hydroformed or sheet that has been bent at specific angles. Note the entire windshield surround is aluminum!
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This is a clean shot of the driver’s compartment, with the finished seat, steering wheel and shifter in place. A boxed steel tube runs beneath the steering column, bolted to the vertical A-pillar on the left of the image. Note the substantial bracket holding the microsuede wheel in place.
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The Z06 will arrive with the buyer’s choice of either a GT or a Competition lightweight seat.The range-topping Competition seats are covered in microsuede and leather, and they feature magnesium frames to reduce mass. The completed seat is shown here with some of the yellow composite bodywork left intact.
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Peering at the aluminum surrounding the compartment that will contain the large passenger-side airbag. A structural steel box-shaped pipe runs beneath the dashboard (some of the only steel in the Z06) because of packaging limitations. Note how it bolts into place on a welded bracket at the base of the A-pillar.
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Looking at the chassis from the passenger side, without the seat installed. The extruded aluminum rails and firewall behind the passenger cabin are visible, as is the composite sandwich floor — there is no metal between the passengers and pavement! (Trivia: The new Boeing 787 uses a similar graphite-reinforced composite passenger cabin floor.)
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The center tunnel has been cut open to reveal the carbon-fiber torque tube and driveshaft. While many other automakers have carbon-fiber driveshafts, Chevrolet is one of the first to utilize the material for its torque tube (the Stingray uses steel). The shifter mechanism, extending into the cabin, is seen at the top of the casing, with the twin exhaust pipes running below it (the torque tube is insulated from the heat with an aluminized wrap.)
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This view, standing directly over the battery box, allows a clean view of the exhaust system as it works its way around the transmission and differential. Note the servo-operated flappers in the exhaust tubes, just aft of the axles, which control the flow of hot gasses. There are more flappers on on the outboard exhaust tips, also visible in the pictures. Lastly, this image clearly shows the cast aluminum frame holding the upper control arms and top of the Magnetic Selective Ride Control unit.
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A nice shot of the quad exhaust tips coming off the steel mufflers (titanium was used on some C5 models, but its market price is too steep today). The aluminum beam at the bottom of the frame serves as the structural part of the rear bumper. Note the battery in the upper right corner, its weight being offset by the driver who sits on the left side of the chassis.
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The eight-speed automatic transmission is flanked by steel tubes carrying hot exhaust to the rear mufflers. The finned aluminum differential casing is on the lower left of the frame.
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Intakes over each rear wheel feed cool air to radiators located in the rear quarter panels to help lower transmission and differential temperatures. Electric fans, pulling air through the core, boost airflow.
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