Inside Europe’s Stolen Car Trafficking Network

We gained exceptional access to the international criminal networks making a fortune from stolen cars. In order to break into the electronic security systems, these thieves have become veritable hackers. Using just the car numberplate, they can obtain clones of keys and fabricate fake vehicle registration documents in order to pass undetected across borders. In this film, they reveal all their tricks. When Mehdi wants to steal a car, the first step is to make a key to open it without breaking in. He starts by photographing the registration number and sending it to hackers in Eastern Europe who have access to the manufacturers’ databases. For a 50 Euro fee, they send Mehdi an encrypted code almost instantaneously, which enables him to make a new physical key. These vehicles are then usually smuggled overseas very quickly.  In recent years, Poland has become a hub for the trafficking of stolen cars in Europe. From Poland, the vehicles then travels further east, towards Kazakhstan and Ukraine. But first, it needs new paperwork. Thanks to accomplices working inside the car manufacturers, the networks have access to blank registration documents. At this point, it becomes virtually undetectable. Recent years have seen the rise of a new phenomenon: the theft of car accessories. These are very expensive and sometimes difficult to buy new. In one suburb south of Paris, thieves posed as building managers gained access to a residents car part where, over the course of a few weeks, they stripped 60 vehicles of parts. Surveillance footage showed them operating with complete impunity. This documentary dives into the heart of this organised crime network and reveals the hidden secrets of this growing threat. This documentary was produced by Patrick Spica Productions and directed by Ibar Aibar & Solène Oeino. It was first released in 2025. ------ We have the stories that global corporations don't want you to know. Our channel is home to award-winning investigations, current affairs and revealing documentaries that challenge unchecked global powers and give you the real, human stories behind the headlines. Want to understand more about our world? Want to delve beyond news headlines and understand global issues more deeply? Subscribe to DISPATCH for all this and more. Make sure to hit notifications to never miss a new release!