NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it has stopped more than 600 attempts this year to ship stolen vehicles overseas through the Port of Newark. Officials say the vehicles were intercepted before they could leave the country, cutting off a lucrative pipeline used by criminal organizations.
The agency also says the seizures have prevented more than $36 million in stolen property from being exported. Officials stressed that those numbers represent real losses that started with families, commuters and small businesses whose vehicles were taken from them.
How thieves are targeting homes for key fobs
Investigators say many of the thefts begin with intruders breaking into homes while residents are asleep. Security camera footage shared by homeowners showed suspects searching drawers and bags inside the house for key fobs tied to high-end cars parked outside.
Once stolen, the vehicles can be moved into shipping containers and routed toward overseas buyers. Officials said that part of the crime is not just the theft itself, but the speed with which vehicles can be moved through the export process before owners and police can recover them.
Millions of dollars in losses for consumers and insurers
Homeland Security official Michael McCarthy said stopping the shipments has protected millions of dollars in stolen vehicles from leaving the United States. He noted that each vehicle represents a person or business that had something valuable taken from them, not just a number in a recovery total.
Customs and Border Protection displayed several high-end vehicles that investigators recovered after thefts. The agency says the illegal trade hurts American consumers, businesses and insurance companies, while also undermining the integrity of the border system.
Federal officials say the Port of Newark is a key interception point
Officials say the Port of Newark has become an important place to disrupt the international shipment of stolen cars. The seizures are part of a wider effort to break up theft rings that depend on moving vehicles out of the country quickly and quietly.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the operation discussed their work at the port, but they did not reveal the specific tactics being used. That reflects the cat-and-mouse nature of the effort, where investigators are trying to stay ahead of organized theft networks that rely on secrecy and speed.
Customs warns the problem reaches beyond car owners
TenaVel Thomas, the CBP port director, said the illegal trade causes a broad economic harm that reaches well beyond the original victims. She said it creates significant losses for American consumers, businesses and insurance companies while also threatening border security.
The recovery effort also highlights how vehicle theft has become tied to international resale networks. By the time stolen cars are loaded for export, they may already have passed through several hands, making recovery more difficult and raising the stakes for local owners who depend on their vehicles every day.
What car owners can do to make theft harder
Officials urged drivers to take basic precautions that can make it harder for thieves to steal a vehicle. Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Paterson Pasteur said owners should never leave cars or key fobs inside vehicles, and should keep doors locked and windows closed.
He also advised parking in well-lit areas whenever possible. Those steps do not guarantee a car will be safe, but officials said they can reduce opportunities for thieves who are looking for easy targets and quick access to key fobs.
