Motorcycle Gang Members Busted for Stolen Jeep Ring

High-tech theft operation responsible for more than 150 Wranglers snatched in SoCal.

Federal authorities recently busted up what likely Is one of the biggest Jeep Wrangler thefts ever in the U.S.
One thing’s for certain, it definitely is one of the most interesting stolen vehicle rings we’ve covered here at JK Forum involving the iconic nameplate.

As detailed in a report by the Consumerist, the illegal operation, spearheaded by a motorcycle gang known as the Hooligans, involved a meticulous operation where the thieves would obtain the VIN numbers for specific Wranglers, then hack the security codes for the Jeeps and create duplicate keys. After that, it was simply matter of driving off in the vehicles.
Once stolen, the Jeeps were shipped to Tijuana, Mexico, where the Wranglers were either sold outright or stripped down for the parts.

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According to the report, federal authorities believe that more than 150 Jeeps were stolen in San Diego County alone since 2014 as part of the high-tech heist.

Even crazier, had it not been for surveillance footage tied to the investigation of 20 specific Wranglers stolen in San Diego County, which promoted authorities to contact FCA, the thieves might have gotten away with stealing a lot more Wranglers.

Of specific interest to investigators was whether or not there had been duplicate keys requested for the Jeeps. FCA determined that they had received requests for keys for all 20 of the Jeeps, with most of the requests coming from a dealership in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But none of the duplicate key requests had come from the actual owners of the Wranglers.

The investigation then led authorities to nine members of the Hooligan gang, who have since booked charged for the stolen Jeep ring, which will likely lead to some pretty stiff jail time for all involved.