Last year, Toyota managed to overtake the Volkswagen Group and retained the title of the world’s best-selling automaker. However, their cars are popular not only among consumers – thieves have also shown a particular fondness for a range of models, especially the Land Cruiser family.
This situation is particularly acute in Australia. The company recently stated that organized criminal groups appear to be importing sophisticated and often expensive equipment to facilitate thefts, leading to an increase in the number of stolen vehicle cases across the automotive industry.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement and Search for Solutions
Toyota does not disclose the exact methods used by the thieves but reports that it has collaborated with police in the states of Victoria and Queensland to identify these devices and develop countermeasures to limit their effectiveness.
The company also stated that it strongly supports a ban on “devices used for criminal activity and the regulation of legal devices used by locksmiths, mechanics, and other automotive professionals.”
Toyota Vehicles – a Growing Target for Thieves
Toyota’s concern is entirely justified. A recent report showed that this brand had four of the five most stolen cars in the state of Victoria during the first nine months of 2025. While first place was taken by the Holden Commodore, it was followed by the Corolla, HiLux, Land Cruiser, and RAV4.
To help address the problem, Toyota enhanced security on several models last year, including the HiLux, Land Cruiser 300, and Land Cruiser Prado. The company is also working on security-related accessories, including an additional immobilizer.
One such solution appears to already be launched: reportedly, dealers have started offering a steering wheel lock. This is essentially Toyota’s version of the well-known anti-theft device The Club, but it looks much more refined and costs 200 Australian dollars (about 140 US dollars).
Car Thefts Take on an International Scale
Earlier this month, Brisbane law enforcement uncovered an international criminal syndicate specializing in Toyota car thefts. According to Queensland Police, a group of foreign nationals flew to Brisbane in October with the intention of stealing Land Cruisers.
They were very successful, managing to steal 60 vehicles between October 20 and December 1. After the theft, the SUVs were reportedly placed in shipping containers for sale in the United Arab Emirates.
Fortunately, on December 2, two stolen Land Cruisers were seen entering a scrapyard, and law enforcement conducted a search. They found two SUVs in a shipping container “hidden behind a facade of disassembled auto parts.”
A week later, two shipping containers with four vehicles inside were detained at the Port of Brisbane. Four more containers were discovered in Melbourne.
As part of Operation “Xray Lox,” seven people were charged with more than 300 offenses. Among them is a 44-year-old man charged with 60 counts of vehicle theft and six counts of attempted theft.
This large-scale operation points to the complexity of combating modern car thieves who use logistics chains for intercontinental movement of stolen property. Despite the successes of law enforcement, the story with Australian Land Cruisers demonstrates how profitable this type of crime can be and how it adapts to globalization. The demand for prestigious and reliable SUVs in Middle Eastern and possibly African markets creates incentives for organized groups willing to take significant risks. The response from automakers, such as the development of additional physical and electronic protection measures, becomes necessary but likely only one element of a comprehensive approach that must include international police cooperation and control over logistics flows.