New York police and prosecutors recently disclosed that a highly skilled theft ring has been operating frantically across the Bronx and various other locations in New York City, with a speed rivaling that of professional “pit stop” crews. In just a few minutes, they could dismantle entire car parts and make a quick getaway, having stolen over 250 vehicles and a large number of parts, with the amount involved exceeding $1.2 million (about RM4.75 million).
A total of 16 suspects aged between 18 and 36 have been indicted, facing up to 971 criminal charges. Prosecutors state that from August 2024 to June 2025, the gang continually committed crimes, specifically stealing vehicles and parts to resell for profit.
Investigations revealed that 14 of the suspects usually operated in groups of three and remained masked throughout their operations. They drove stolen vehicles to the targeted location, carrying jacks and plastic containers, and struck swiftly between midnight and 5 am. Using power tools, these individuals could remove tires, rims, and even catalytic converters within just a few minutes.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said the suspects operated at night with high speed and precision, as efficient as pit stop teams, “stealing and reselling vehicles and parts worth over a million dollars on the black market.” Many victims would only discover in the morning, when preparing for work or school, that their cars were propped up on boxes, had all their wheels stolen, or had even disappeared entirely, resulting in severe financial loss and disruption to daily life.
Data shows the ring stole a total of 11 whole vehicles, 172 tires and rims, and 69 catalytic converters, with operations spanning the Bronx and extending into Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The total number of vehicles involved reached as many as 252.
Police also noted that stolen vehicles were often re-used to carry out subsequent crimes. Two suspects were identified as buyers of stolen catalytic converters and resold them on the black market for profit. When searching one such suspect's residence, police found a suitcase containing $116,000 (about RM460,000) in cash.
The police receive over 200 similar reports every month, with most victimized vehicles being popular brands such as Honda and Toyota.
Further investigation revealed that some suspects were connected to street gangs and had ties to the Dominican Republic. Currently, they face multiple charges including grand larceny, possession of stolen property, illegal vehicle dismantling, criminal mischief, and unauthorized use of vehicles.
So far, 8 suspects have appeared in court, while another 8 remain at large or are awaiting arraignment. Most of those who appeared in court have been released on supervised bail.
Police state this is a highly organized crime ring, almost “treating car theft as a profession,” committing crimes throughout the night over the long term. Law enforcement stresses they will hold those involved accountable according to the law to curb the spread of similar crimes.