Car theft incidents in Japan have been steadily increasing, with many vehicles being dismantled and illegally exported overseas, often involving criminal organizations.
In Japan, car thefts have risen significantly, with the police acknowledging 6,386 reported cases in 2025, marking an increase for the fourth consecutive year. This resurgence follows a lengthy decline from a peak of approximately 64,000 thefts in 2003, with recent patterns highlighting a focus on models like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Prius, and Lexus luxury vehicles. Notably, the criminal tactic known as 'CAN invader' has gained prominence, allowing thieves to remotely start vehicles by manipulating their electronic control units.
Once stolen, vehicles are typically transported to storage sites known as 'yards' where they are dismantled for parts. There are well-documented instances of these parts being packaged up for illegal exportation, particularly to countries like the United Arab Emirates. A recent police operation in October 2025 uncovered nine dismantled stolen cars in a shipping container intended for export from Yokohama Port. Further arrests earlier that year involved individuals attempting to disguise stolen luxury cars as used vehicles for illicit export to Thailand, highlighting systemic issues in international car theft networks.
The rise in auto theft is not just a law enforcement concern but signals deeper implications related to organized crime and the effectiveness of current regulations. Although some local areas have introduced ordinances to combat these trends, the lack of overarching legal frameworks makes it challenging to address the issue comprehensively. Hence, police efforts continue to evolve as they adapt to the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by car thieves and their networks, raising alarms about public safety and vehicle security in Japan.
