Federal agents have stopped more than 600 attempts to ship stolen vehicles overseas through the Port of Newark, as part of an international crime ring.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday that security camera videos showed intruders entering homes while families slept upstairs, searching drawers and bags for key fobs to high-end vehicles parked outside. Many of those stolen vehicles ended up in containers at the Port of Newark before being shipped to overseas buyers, generating millions of dollars for criminal organizations, according to officials.
The Scale of the Catch
The effort has prevented millions of dollars’ worth of stolen property from leaving the country, said Michael McCarthy of Homeland Security.
“Keeping over $36 million in stolen property from leaving this country, but behind those numbers are real victims, every single one of those vehicles were taken from someone — a family, a commuter, a small business,” McCarthy said.
Customs and Border Protection displayed several high-end vehicles investigators recovered after they were stolen.
The Port’s Role
The Port of Newark has become a central point in the theft chain. Security camera footage shows how the scheme works: thieves enter homes, find key fobs, and drive away vehicles parked outside.
What Officials Say
TenaVel Thomas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director, framed the trade as a broader threat.
“This illegal trade represents a significant loss for American consumers, businesses and insurance companies and it undermines the integrity of our borders,” Thomas said.
The Victims Behind the Numbers
McCarthy’s remarks made the figures personal. He noted that each vehicle belonged to someone — a family, a commuter, a small business — before it became a cargo item.
How Thieves Get In
The cameras captured the full sequence. Intruders entered homes while families slept upstairs, searched drawers and bags for key fobs, and drove away vehicles parked outside.
Prevention Advice
Vehicle owners were urged to take precautions that could make theft harder. Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Paterson Pasteur offered simple advice:
“Never leave their cars and key fobs in vehicles, keep doors locked, windows closed, park your cars in well-lit areas.”
Ongoing Work
Law enforcement agencies involved in efforts to break up the theft rings discussed their ongoing work at the Port of Newark but did not disclose their tactics.
The Numbers on the Ground
More than 600 attempts were stopped this year. Each attempt involved thieves breaking into homes to steal key fobs, then driving the stolen vehicles to the Port of Newark, where they were loaded into shipping containers bound for overseas buyers.
The recovery of several high-end vehicles suggests the thefts targeted specific brands and models. The display of those recovered vehicles was meant to show the scale of the operation and the value of the goods involved.
The prevention advice comes down to basic habits. Keeping key fobs out of vehicles, locking doors, closing windows, and parking in well-lit areas all reduce the chances that a thief can walk off with a car in seconds.
The fact that law enforcement agencies declined to share their tactics suggests the investigation remains active and sensitive. Officials are still working to dismantle the network that connects home break-ins to the Port of Newark to the overseas market.
Over 600 stolen cars were caught at the Port of Newark before they reached overseas buyers. Customs and Border Protection displayed several high-end vehicles recovered by investigators.
The effort has prevented over $36 million in stolen property from leaving the country. Behind those numbers are real victims — families, commuters, small businesses — who lost their vehicles.
Key Facts Box
– More than 600 attempts stopped this year
– Over $36 million in stolen property prevented from leaving the country
– Vehicles shipped to overseas buyers through the Port of Newark
– Security camera videos provided by homeowners
– Criminal organizations generate millions of dollars from the trade
The crackdown shows how a busy port can become a distribution point for stolen goods. The thieves targeted homes for keys, the port for shipping, and the overseas market for profit.
Source material: “Customs stops more than 600 stolen cars from being shipped out of the Port of Newark in international crime theft ring,” ABC13 Houston.
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