Scheme with car theft through rental platform uncovered
In the state of Arizona, law enforcement exposed an organized criminal group engaged in stealing premium automobiles. During the operation, 29 vehicles worth about 2.5 million dollars were seized, as well as cash and weapons. Three individuals with connections in Mexico and the Middle East were detained.
The criminals used a car rental platform to generate additional profit from the stolen cars. Some automobiles had falsified identification numbers and appeared on the rental site just a week after the theft. Among the seized vehicles were Chevrolet, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and other premium models.
“This operation is proof of the effectiveness of joint work by law enforcement. We continue to protect the communities of Arizona,” stated Colonel Jeffrey Glover, Director of AZDPS.
Operation details
One of the detainees had access to local DMV databases, which allowed them to disguise stolen cars as legitimate rental offerings. Representatives of the rental platform confirmed cooperation with investigators and noted that such cases are rare.
Although such a scheme required careful planning, law enforcement managed to uncover it. This serves as a reminder that even complex criminal operations remain vulnerable to modern security systems and the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies.