"They're trading a guaranteed supply of cars for a guaranteed market," said Atsushi Mizoguchi, an expert on the Japanese underworld. "I can see more sophisticated rackets in the future," such as using the Internet.
The Japanese government unwit-tingly made smuggling cars easier six year ago when it eased inspection and documentation requirements for exporters of used motor vehicles.
But stealing cars has never been that hard.
Few people in big Japanese cities have garages, and many cars lack basic anti-theft equipment. Hot-wiring is not a required skill -- about 40 percent of cars taken have had the keys left in them. During the summer, thieves hang around convenience stores waiting for customers who drive up and leave their engines running to keep the air conditioning on.
"The myth of Japan as a crime-free nation is an enduring one," said Naoto Nakayama, an insurance association official.
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