Exotic Car Theft Ring Operating Out of LA: How They Steal Your Ride and What You Can Do To Protect Yourself
This post is based on information from the VinWiki YouTube channel’s video titled “Exotic Car Theft – The New Scam Explained”.
As a private investigator, I’ve been working on a string of exotic car thefts, and most signs point to a sophisticated operation in Glendale, California, Aka, Fraud Capital of California. (Remember the Bear That Destroyed the Rolls Royce Insurance Scam?) Thieves are exploiting the trusted world of car transport, using a clever combination of load boards, defunct trucking companies, and double brokering to make off with high-end vehicles.
Thankfully the one person who could best explain this just dropped a perfect video describing this scam. VinWiki’s creator Ed Bolian breaks it down. Disturbingly, one image from the VinWiki video even shows three recently stolen exotics parked on Google Street View taken the day after the theft! I know, because I’ve been working this case.
While working a case of a stolen Rolls Royce Cullinan, we located this Google Street View image a couple months ago of three stolen exotic cars stolen in the same way. Since VinWiki shows the image in the video, it was time to go public. Two of the three exotics in the Street View image have since been recovered. The Lambo was recently recovered in Texas (VIN Switched) and the Aston Martin was recovered shorty after seen on Street View in July. I’ve personally have now recovered several of these vehicles involving the same scam. Dozens if not hundreds are currently still stolen. Most are probably still in the US just badly VIN switched. Well, except for that Cullinan. Looks like a famous person in Mexico might have it. (or a shady relative?) 🙂 Update you on that when we can.
Here’s how the scam works:
Before we begin, I’ll cut to the chase… when you need someone to steal (I mean, retrieve) your exotic car back. Call me.
Bad actors acquire the MC (Motor Carrier) numbers of defunct trucking companies. These numbers allow for interstate transport and can be purchased for a few thousand dollars.
They create a new LLC in a different state using the acquired MC number, obtain a new DOT number, and set up an account on a load board like Central Dispatch. They may even complete some legitimate hauls to build a positive reputation.
The scammers use “double brokering” to steal cars. They accept a transport job on the load board, but instead of using their own trucks, they rebook the load using a different account, often posing as a broker.
The car is then picked up by a legitimate trucking company unaware of the scam. The thieves provide accurate pickup information and a fake delivery address.
The car is delivered to a generic address, often near dealerships in Los Angeles. An accomplice signs for the vehicle, and it quickly disappears into the criminal network.
Stolen cars are often resold locally, retitled, wrapped in different colors, or even disassembled. Export is less common than you might think.
RELATED CASE: The guy in this video was photographed by a concerned transport driver. Luckily he sucks at driving a McLaren.
How to protect yourself:
Verify the trucking company that will be transporting your car. Make sure they are a legitimate company with a good reputation and are not planning to rebook the load.
List your company as a beneficiary of the trucking company’s insurance policy.
Thoroughly check all shipping documents and the bill of lading.
Communicate directly with the trucker and get their contact information.
Take photos of the vehicle, truck, trailer, tags, and stickers at pickup.
If you suspect your car has been stolen, act quickly! Track any installed devices, contact the police, and offer a generous reward for information. Leverage social media and exotic car spotter networks to spread the word.
This sophisticated car theft ring is a serious threat to anyone shipping exotic cars. Be vigilant, do your due diligence, and consider alternative transport options, like driving the car yourself, if possible.
Its a good chance the cops are too busy to help. Call me 408-461-7714.
Marc Hinch is a retired California Highway Patrol Auto Theft Investigator and now a licensed PI. He has been operating Stolen 911 to recovery vehicles since 2007.
