Operation Trojan Shield / ANOM — stolen vehicle trafficking exposed
Europol / FBI / AFP / INTERPOL (2021)
Global encrypted-phone sting that uncovered organised networks moving stolen luxury vehicles between Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
Stolen Car Insights & Case Studies
A study and reference page on major vehicle-theft cases and operations. Every entry links to an official law-enforcement or government source — INTERPOL, Europol, FBI, RCMP, AFP, SAPS, BKA, UK Home Office and other national agencies.
Major Cases & Operations
INTERPOL Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database — 12+ million records
INTERPOL (Ongoing)
The world's largest registry of stolen motor vehicles, queried millions of times per year at borders and vehicle inspections.
Source: INTERPOL — Stolen Motor Vehicles
EMPACT Vehicle Crime priority — joint action days
Europol (2022–2024)
EU-wide coordinated operations recovering thousands of stolen cars and parts each year.
Source: Europol — Motor Vehicle Crime
FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) — Vehicle File
FBI (Ongoing)
Active US records of stolen vehicles, plates and parts. Queried more than 14 million times per day by US police.
Source: FBI — NCIC
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting — 1.02 million US motor vehicle thefts in 2023
FBI (2023)
Highest figure since 2008, with Kia and Hyundai models heavily targeted.
Source: FBI — Crime Data Explorer
Project investigations — Port of Montréal stolen-car exports
RCMP / CBSA / Équité Association (2023–2024)
Joint Canadian investigation into containers leaving Montréal bound for West Africa and the Middle East. Over 70,000 vehicles stolen in Canada in 2023.
Source: RCMP — Auto Theft
Canadian National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft
Government of Canada (2024)
Federal action plan committing CBSA and the RCMP to inspect more outbound containers and dismantle organised export networks.
Source: Public Safety Canada
Australian Federal Police — Operation Ironside vehicle seizures
AFP (2021)
AFP-led arm of the ANOM operation seized luxury vehicles linked to organised crime, including cars destined for export under fraudulent identities.
Source: Australian Federal Police
NMVTRC — Australian profit-motivated theft analysis
NMVTRC (2023)
Annual data on rebirthing rings and the export of stolen cars to South-East Asia.
Source: NMVTRC
South African Police Service — vehicle crime statistics
SAPS (2023/24)
Quarterly statistics on tens of thousands of vehicle thefts and hijackings; cross-border movement into Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Source: SAPS — Crime Statistics
UK Office for National Statistics — Vehicle Offences
UK Home Office / ONS (2024)
Over 130,000 vehicle thefts in England and Wales, with keyless / relay attacks on high-end vehicles a leading concern.
Source: UK ONS
Bundeskriminalamt — Kfz-Kriminalität annual report
BKA Germany (2023)
German federal police yearly vehicle-crime report tracking thefts and eastward export routes via Poland and the Baltic states.
Source: Bundeskriminalamt
Stichting Aanpak Voertuigcriminaliteit (AVc)
Dutch Police / AVc (Ongoing)
Dutch public-private body publishing data on car theft, container shipments leaving Rotterdam and recovery operations.
Source: AVc
UNODC — Organised crime and trafficking of motor vehicles
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2023)
UNODC analysis of the link between transnational organised crime and motor-vehicle trafficking.
Source: UNODC
Official Sources & Reference Agencies
- INTERPOL — Vehicle crime
- Europol — Motor vehicle crime
- FBI — NCIC
- FBI Crime Data Explorer
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police — Auto theft
- Équité Association (Canada)
- Australian Federal Police
- NMVTRC (Australia)
- South African Police Service
- UK Home Office
- Bundeskriminalamt (Germany)
- Gendarmerie Nationale (France)
- Dutch Police
- New Zealand Police
- UNODC
- World Customs Organization
How An International Database Supports These Investigations
National police databases such as the FBI NCIC, the UK PNC and the German INPOL system are powerful — but their reach stops at the border. INTERPOL's Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database closes part of that gap for member states, and a publicly searchable international registry closes the rest: buyers, dealers, port inspectors and insurers anywhere in the world can instantly check a VIN or license plate before money changes hands.
Report a stolen vehicle · Search the database
Disclaimer: This page is a study/reference resource. All case summaries link to the responsible official agency. Stolencardatabase.com is not affiliated with INTERPOL, Europol, the FBI or any government body.