Car Jackers

Increased automobile security means that car criminals are becoming more ingenious than ever. Gangs are working together to steal cars — for them car theft can be more profitable than selling drugs. In Santa Maria, California, three cars are stolen every day and police are now targeting the thieves rather than recovering vehicles. The criminals, meanwhile, rush to get the cars out of state, and then — via corrupt shippers — overseas. In West Africa, a criminal class has arisen that is willing to pay top dollar for high-end stolen U.S. cars.