Car theft goes global

This Plain English podcast episode discusses the modern, globalized phenomenon of car theft. The host explains how advancements in car security technology in the early 2000s initially reduced car theft, but a new wave of high-tech theft targeting luxury vehicles has emerged. Stolen cars are now shipped in containers to countries in Africa and the Middle East with weaker law enforcement, where demand is high due to the cost of legally importing vehicles. The episode details the methods used by modern car thieves, including relay devices and rental car schemes, and highlights the ease with which these thefts occur. The episode concludes by promising a follow-up episode detailing the logistics of shipping stolen cars internationally.