BMWs, Escalades – Mexican cartels steal luxury vehicles from rental lots, take them across border

Mexican cartels are reportedly stealing cars and trucks – including the latest BMWs and Cadillacs models from U.S. rental agencies – at an alarming rate.

The thieves are taking the vehicles back to their respective leaders back in Mexico, and most of the thefts are occurring, as likely expected, in border states including California, according to The Los Angeles Times.

However, cartel operatives have stolen vehicles from as far away from the U.S.-Mexico border as  New York, Chicago and Miami. 

Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Juvey Mejia, a member of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft Prevention, told the newspaper said the cartels love heavy-duty pickup trucks and Jeeps. 

“Anything that can drive through tough terrain to get away from Border Patrol so they can move dope,” Mejia said.