🇯🇵 Are car thefts rising in Japan?

🇯🇵 Are car thefts rising in Japan? Yes. Official police-related data and news reports confirm thefts increased recently. • From Jan–Jun 2025, Japan recorded 3,821 car thefts, about 29% higher than the year before. • Authorities say the rise is linked to higher car prices and overseas demand, which make stolen vehicles profitable to export. So the trend of increasing thefts is real, though Japan still has far fewer thefts than many countries. ⸻ 🚗 Which cars are targeted? Police data shows thieves strongly target specific Toyota models: • Toyota Land Cruiser • Toyota Prius • Lexus SUVs and luxury models For example, in the first half of 2025, the Land Cruiser alone accounted for 765 stolen vehicles, the highest among models. These vehicles are popular overseas and resell for high prices. ⸻ 🌍 Are stolen cars shipped overseas? Yes, this part is also true. Investigators report that organized groups: • steal vehicles or dismantle them into parts • hide them in containers • export them abroad for resale Some vehicles are shipped overseas and reassembled later, making recovery difficult. This is one of the main reasons theft has become profitable again. ⸻ 🕵️ What about “Tokuryu” groups? The term Tokuryu is real. • It refers to loosely organized criminal networks recruited online • They often commit theft, scams, and other profit-motivated crimes • Police investigated over 10,000 suspected members in 2024 These groups are increasingly replacing traditional yakuza in some crimes. However: 👉 No strong public evidence yet that Tokuryu specifically dominate car theft nationwide. That part of the viral post is plausible but not proven broadly.