America's Greatest Car Thief In History
When you think of America's greatest car thief of all time, you might think of Al Capone, the notorious crime boss who co-founded the Chicago Outfit. Or maybe you can imagine a mastermind who pulled off a daring heist with a fleet of exotic cars. But the truth is more surprising: the most prolific car thief in U.S. history is Min Jin Yang, who stole over 1000 vehicles in his career. How did he do it? And why did he target the fanciest and most luxurious cars, such as Audis and Lamborghinis, in New York?
#CriminalMastermind #TrueCrimeStory #CarTheft #truecrime
- From Spy to NYC's Car Theft Kingpin: The True Story of Min Jin Yang
-Betrayals, Escapes, and Luxury Cars: Inside the Crime World of Min Jin Yang
- Behind the Wheel of Deception: NYC's Most Audacious Car Theft Ring Revealed
- Forget James Bond, Meet the Chinese Spy Turned American Car Robbery King
- The Rise and Fall of NYC's Most Notorious Car Thief: Min Jin Yang Unmasked
- He Drove Away with Millions: The Real Crime Story of NYC's Luxury Car Bandit
- Cars, Crimes, and Cunnings: Decoding the Heists of Min Jin Yang
- From Beijing to Brooklyn: The Tale of an Intelligence Officer Turned Car Thief
- Stealing Luxury: How Min Jin Yang Became NYC's Car Heist Mastermind
- NYC's Glitzy 90s Underbelly: The Car Theft Empire of Min Jin Yang
- Min Jin Yang: The Ex-Intelligence Officer Who Stole Millions on NYC's Streets
Min Jin Yang, NYC Car Theft, Real Crime, True Story, Car Theft, Escape, Crime Story, Criminals, Luxury Car Heist, High-Tech Crime, Organized Crime NYC, Car Heist, Cars Robbery, NYC Crime Mastermind, True Crime Story, Ex-Military Criminals, Untold Story, Criminal History, Illegal Activities
When you think of America's greatest car thief of all time, you might think of Al Capone, the notorious crime boss who co-founded the Chicago Outfit. Or maybe you can imagine a mastermind who pulled off a daring heist with a fleet of exotic cars. But the truth is more surprising: the most prolific car thief in U.S. history is Min Jin Yang, who stole over 1000 vehicles in his career. How did he do it? And why did he target the fanciest and most luxurious cars, such as Audis and Lamborghinis, in New York?
#CriminalMastermind #TrueCrimeStory #CarTheft #truecrime
- From Spy to NYC's Car Theft Kingpin: The True Story of Min Jin Yang
-Betrayals, Escapes, and Luxury Cars: Inside the Crime World of Min Jin Yang
- Behind the Wheel of Deception: NYC's Most Audacious Car Theft Ring Revealed
- Forget James Bond, Meet the Chinese Spy Turned American Car Robbery King
- The Rise and Fall of NYC's Most Notorious Car Thief: Min Jin Yang Unmasked
- He Drove Away with Millions: The Real Crime Story of NYC's Luxury Car Bandit
- Cars, Crimes, and Cunnings: Decoding the Heists of Min Jin Yang
- From Beijing to Brooklyn: The Tale of an Intelligence Officer Turned Car Thief
- Stealing Luxury: How Min Jin Yang Became NYC's Car Heist Mastermind
- NYC's Glitzy 90s Underbelly: The Car Theft Empire of Min Jin Yang
- Min Jin Yang: The Ex-Intelligence Officer Who Stole Millions on NYC's Streets
Min Jin Yang, NYC Car Theft, Real Crime, True Story, Car Theft, Escape, Crime Story, Criminals, Luxury Car Heist, High-Tech Crime, Organized Crime NYC, Car Heist, Cars Robbery, NYC Crime Mastermind, True Crime Story, Ex-Military Criminals, Untold Story, Criminal History, Illegal Activities
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NewsTranscript
00:00When you think of America's greatest car thief of all time, you might think of Al Capone,
00:05the notorious crime boss who co-founded the Chicago Outfit.
00:08Or maybe you can imagine a mastermind who pulled off a daring heist with a fleet of exotic cars.
00:13But the truth is more surprising.
00:15The most prolific car thief in U.S. history is Min Jin Young,
00:18who stole over 1,000 vehicles in his career.
00:22How did he do it?
00:23And why did he target the fanciest and most luxurious cars,
00:26such as Audis and Lamborghinis in New York?
00:29Keep watching to find out.
00:30New York City, the Big Apple, is a place where dreams are made and fortunes amassed.
00:35Some studies even describe it as the most luxurious city on Earth.
00:39It's a metropolis overflowing with the wealthy elite cruising its streets in their lavish top-of-the-line cars.
00:45In fact, it boasts America's highest concentration of high-end automobiles.
00:50But in 1999, a storm hit the city.
00:53New York City witnessed a wave of car thefts like no other.
00:56In less than a month and a half, 48 high-end vehicles vanished into thin air.
01:01It wasn't your typical smash-and-grab operation, no.
01:05These thefts were like a magician's vanishing act, swift and silent.
01:09It was as slick as their stolen rides.
01:11These thieves were smooth operators.
01:14They'd glide in, steal a car quicker than you can finish coffee, and vanish into the cityscape.
01:19No specific neighborhood was safe from their heists.
01:22Malls, parking lots, you name it.
01:24They were there, pulling off these disappearing acts.
01:27What set this case apart was the worrying fact that these stolen cars didn't reappear on the scene.
01:33Now, when the average car thief strikes, there's usually a silver lining for the police.
01:38You know how cops usually catch a whiff of a stolen car sooner or later?
01:41Well, not with this crew.
01:43The police were scratching their heads in confusion.
01:45Where on earth were these thieves hoarding their loot?
01:49Was there a secret underground garage teeming with luxury vehicles?
01:52Perhaps an auction house was secretly held for the rich and famous.
01:56The authorities were baffled.
01:58At first, they thought the missing cars were being smuggled out of the country.
02:02But how?
02:03Well, there was one place that could serve as a secret gateway for such a grand operation.
02:08The Port of Brooklyn.
02:10It is an ideal hub to ship out a treasure trove of stolen cars.
02:13So, a crack team from the NYPD's car theft unit decided to snoop around Brooklyn's port,
02:19thinking they might catch a car theft gang red-handed.
02:22But guess what?
02:23They didn't spot any suspicious activity.
02:26No gang.
02:27No expensive cars disappearing into the night.
02:30The shocking thing was that the mastermind behind this operation wasn't your typical New Yorker.
02:35Or even an American, for that matter.
02:37This person went by the name Min Jin Yang.
02:40And he was from China.
02:41Min Jin Yang was the mastermind pulling the strings behind the theft of thousands of luxury cars.
02:47Right under the big apple's nose.
02:49The value of all the cars he stole was around $40 million, which is around $75 million in today's value.
02:57The burning question on everyone's mind is,
02:59how on earth did he pull this off?
03:01To answer that question, we need to find out who Min Jin Yang is.
03:05Yang wasn't just any ordinary guy.
03:08He had a rather fascinating background.
03:10Before he started his car-stealing escapades, Min Jin Yang served as an intelligence officer in the Chinese army.
03:16After a rather unceremonious exit, Yang packed his bags and moved to Shanghai,
03:21one of China's most dazzling cities, where luxury was the name of the game.
03:25There, the demand for top-tier cars was sky-high, but the supply was about as scarce.
03:31As a unicorn in Times Square, luxury cars were practically an endangered species in China.
03:37So what did Yang decide to do?
03:39Well, he did what any self-respecting ex-intelligence officer would.
03:43He put his skills to use.
03:45He embarked on a career that would make any car enthusiast's jaw drop.
03:49Yang saw a golden opportunity and decided to make his move.
03:53He reached out to the shady underworld of Shanghai,
03:56where he presented a brilliant proposition for the head honcho of one of these notorious gangs.
04:01Yang painted a clear picture for the gang leader.
04:04He told this kingpin that he had a history as an intelligence officer in the army,
04:08and he knew a thing or two about the art of smuggling,
04:11the ins and outs, the hows and whys, and even how to outsmart the security forces.
04:17Miraculously, Yang managed to convince this gang leader that he could be their ticket to imported cars.
04:23He promised to bring vehicles from far and wide,
04:26and the gang leader would have the perfect setup to sell them in China through his well-established network.
04:31Why did the gang leader take the bait?
04:34Well, cars in China aren't exactly pocket change,
04:37and Yang could bring a car for $100,000 and sell it in China for a whopping $200,000.
04:44That's a 100% profit.
04:46The gang leader was all in.
04:47He liked the idea, and it's no wonder given the potential for massive profits.
04:52So, Yang and the gang leader shook hands on a $40,000-$60,000 profit-sharing arrangement,
04:57and the gang leader handed Yang a cool half a million dollars to kickstart their operations.
05:02Where did Yang decide to set up shop?
05:05The city of dreams.
05:06New York Yang was well aware that the Big Apple was the ideal hunting ground.
05:11It's a melting pot of luxury cars due to the abundance of wealthy folks in town.
05:16Armed with that generous investment, he headed to New York to turn his grand plan into reality.
05:22And here's where things get interesting.
05:24Yang didn't just stroll into the city.
05:26He applied his military training like a pro.
05:29He assumed a fake identity and went by the name,
05:32Kenny, playing the role of an immigrant just trying to make ends meet.
05:36This was just the beginning of his mission to blend into American society.
05:40He wasn't aiming for the spotlight.
05:42In fact, he wanted folks to believe he was as ordinary as your next-door neighbor.
05:47So, he moved around town in an old Nissan Altima.
05:51No flashy rides here.
05:52He didn't want to come off as some silver-spoon-fed rich kid.
05:56First, Yang got a sidekick.
05:58A right hand.
05:59Man named Pui Chow.
06:01Pui Chow had been in the city and knew his way around.
06:04These two had a mission.
06:06Finding the perfect hideout for the luxurious cars they were about to steal.
06:10But this wasn't just any hideout.
06:11It had to meet some specific criteria.
06:14First and foremost, it had to be far, far away from any nosy police station.
06:19Second, it had to be nestled in a quiet corner of town.
06:22Preferably where there weren't too many problems or crimes going down.
06:26You know, the kind of place where cops and security forces don't exactly throw parties.
06:31Finding a hidden, squeaky-clean spot in New York.
06:34A city known for its thriving crime rates.
06:37Wasn't a walk in Central Park.
06:39After weeks of research, Yang and Chow finally struck gold.
06:43They located the ideal warehouse.
06:45Now all they needed to do was rent it.
06:47But they didn't want their names plastered all over the lease.
06:51So they cooked up a plan and created an anonymous company.
06:54The idea was simple.
06:56If anyone decided to investigate this ghost company, it wouldn't lead them back to Yang.
07:01He was covering his tracks, just in case things took a bad turn.
07:04But the plan was still far from being a wrap.
07:07Yang needed a team, a crew of trusty individuals, to pull this off.
07:12He handpicked fellow Chinese compadres for this gig.
07:15Why?
07:16Because they were the only ones he could trust implicitly.
07:19The ones whose loyalty he was dead certain about.
07:22Their first mission inside the warehouse was to make it look like a giant food pantry.
07:27They hauled in boxes of chow and neatly stacked them at the front.
07:30So that if anyone so much as peeked inside the place, they'd immediately think it was owned by some food
07:36company.
07:37They say necessity is the mother of invention.
07:39And in Yang's case, it was a craving for an amazing life that led to a plan so audacious, it
07:45could make your head spin.
07:47Yang and his crew were about to embark on a journey that involved heists, surveillance, and a quest for the
07:53perfect partner in crime.
07:54It all began with food, surprisingly enough.
07:58Most of the food they bought for this adventure was dry and non-perishable.
08:02Why?
08:02Well, that's because they needed to keep it stashed in the refrigerator for an extended period.
08:07But the food was just the tip of the iceberg.
08:09These folks weren't playing games, they meant business.
08:12They installed surveillance cameras around their secret warehouse hideout,
08:16making sure that every nook and cranny of the street was under their watchful gaze.
08:21With the initial set up in place, Yang and his gang were ready to move on to the next phase
08:26of their grand plan.
08:28Stealing cars.
08:29Now, here's where things get interesting.
08:31Yang was no car thief.
08:33He had no experience in stealing cars.
08:35Plus, he didn't want to get his hands dirty.
08:37He wanted to keep a low profile, stay in the shadows, and let others handle the dirty work.
08:43So, his idea was to find an expert in the field.
08:46Someone who could do the dirty work for him.
08:49So, he set out on a mission, visiting car garages and attending car auctions, hoping to find the right person.
08:56After a considerable amount of searching, he finally found his guy.
09:00A car thief extraordinaire named Dean.
09:03Their paths crossed at an auction for salvage vehicles.
09:07Yang wasted no time in laying out his proposition to Dean.
09:10He wanted Dean to be the man behind the wheel.
09:13Quite literally.
09:14Dean would handle the theft operations, either doing the job himself or hiring skilled accomplices.
09:20Dean had the connections.
09:22He had a close friend in the business.
09:24A guy named Mario Lopez.
09:26Who was as sharp as they come in the car theft game.
09:29Dean trusted Mario implicitly.
09:31And Mario was even better than Dean at swiping cars.
09:34For car thieves, the most challenging part isn't necessarily stealing the car itself.
09:39It's getting rid of the darn thing afterward.
09:41But with Yang offering to purchase any stolen car, the operation suddenly became a whole lot smoother.
09:47It was a tempting offer for Mario.
09:49Dean was all set to dive into the action.
09:52And so was Mario.
09:53But this wasn't a solo operation for him.
09:56No, he didn't go all Vin Diesel and steal cars by himself.
10:00Instead, Mario had a tricky approach.
10:02He'd stroll up to the chosen target car and disable the car's security system.
10:06Once Mario's done his thing, they rope in another player.
10:09Someone who's skilled in the art of vanishing with stolen cars.
10:13This person takes the car's to a secret hiding spot.
10:16So we've got a chain of people involved.
10:18With Yang being the master puppeteer.
10:20Yang deals with Dean.
10:22Dean deals with Mario.
10:23And Mario gets the car's ready for a disappearing act.
10:27It's like a criminal relay race.
10:28But that's not all.
10:30Yang's has a warehouse where all these stolen gems are polished up before being shipped off to unknown destinations.
10:36And here's the twist.
10:38Everyone in the warehouse crew is Chinese or at least Asian.
10:42Because Yang trusts them implicitly.
10:44It's a smart move.
10:46This way.
10:46Yang keeps his hands clean and his secrets hidden from prying eyes.
10:51When all the gears are in place, it's Yang's call.
10:53He tells Dean to kickstart the operation.
10:55And they have a specific type of car in their plans.
10:58Only the fanciest of vehicles.
11:00Dean then passes the word to Mario.
11:02And it's go time.
11:03They hit up places where the rich folks hang out.
11:06Posh malls, upscale neighborhoods, and, you won't believe it, even parking lots.
11:11Now, the whole operation rests on Mario's skills.
11:14This guy's a car-stealing professional.
11:16He can snatch any car.
11:18Anytime.
11:19Anywhere.
11:20When he locks onto his target, he doesn't mess with breaking the locks.
11:23That's too risky.
11:25Instead, he's all about smashing and slipping through the car window.
11:28See, if you break the car lock, the car's anti-theft computer goes into a fit.
11:33And the car won't budge an inch.
11:35One of Mario's superpowers?
11:37He's a tech whiz.
11:38He can outsmart the car's security systems with a super skill of ones and zeros.
11:43He hooks up the laptop to the car's computer like a pro.
11:46And with a few keystrokes, he reprogrammed it.
11:49This little trick transformed the car into something you could start with just a regular key.
11:53No fancy remote needed.
11:55Mario had this down to a science, and he could work his magic in under a minute.
11:59Once the car's security systems were toast, he'd give the nod to one of his crew members.
12:04Hey, buddy, take this beauty to a safe spot, Mario would say.
12:08And off the stolen car went.
12:10They had a secret spot.
12:11A parking lot in a rich neighborhood filled with more luxury cars than you could count.
12:15Why this luxurious location, you ask?
12:18Well, because Mario was no rookie, he knew that high-end cars often came equipped with
12:23GPS devices.
12:24Since Yang, the brains behind this operation, left no stone unturned, he gave his thieves
12:30strict orders.
12:31They'd drive those stolen vehicles to these fancy parking lots, then work their electronic
12:36magic, disabling the GPS.
12:38But what if, just what if, the owner had already figured out their precious ride was missing
12:43and decided to hit the panic button on that GPS?
12:46Well, Yang had that scenario covered too.
12:49The thief would drop off the car in one of these upscale lots, park among other flashy
12:54rides, and simply walk away.
12:56In the presence of other luxurious cars, their stolen cars blended in like chameleons at a
13:01rainbow convention.
13:02For good measure, they'd leave the car there for two days.
13:06Two days served as the ultimate litmus test.
13:09If the car sat undisturbed for that long, it meant the cops were in the dark.
13:13They weren't out hunting for it and are clueless about its whereabouts.
13:16After two days, the thief makes his moves.
13:19He sneaks back to the car, confident that no one's tailing him.
13:22You see, all this was part of Yang's master plan.
13:25This guy wasn't just your regular crook.
13:27He had some serious intel.
13:29He had Dean, one of his trusted crew members, under his thumb.
13:33Dean, along with his buddy Mario, was in charge of the gang of thieves.
13:38Yang had a knack for playing it safe.
13:39He'd direct Dean to assemble a group of seasoned thieves and instruct them to park the car a few
13:45blocks away from a mysterious warehouse.
13:48Why all the secrecy?
13:50Well, Yang was a master of discretion.
13:52He didn't want a soul on this planet to have the slightest clue about the warehouse's location.
13:58Nobody except for Dean and his pal Mario, who had the hefty responsibility of managing
14:03this team of crafty criminals.
14:05After the thief skillfully parks the car, a safe distance from the warehouse, Dean enters
14:11the scene.
14:11He stealthily retrieves the vehicle and heads toward the mysterious warehouse.
14:15But Yang, being the strategic genius he is, isn't done testing the waters just yet.
14:21He wants to ensure that the police are nowhere near, tailing their prized possession.
14:26So, what's his grand plan?
14:28Yang instructs Dean to drive in circles around the warehouse.
14:31Why, you ask?
14:33Well, it's pretty simple.
14:34If any vehicle happens to join Dean's little parade, it's a dead giveaway that someone is
14:39hot on their tail.
14:41Yang had a two-pronged approach to stay ahead of the law.
14:44First, there were the surveillance cameras discreetly perched outside the warehouse.
14:48They're like the silent sentinels, keeping an eye on the street, ready to spot any car
14:53snooping around after Dean.
14:55But Yang wasn't one to rely on just a single trick.
14:58There was another layer to this operation.
15:00Yang had a master plan, and he knew that timing was everything.
15:04His 13-second strategy, too, wasn't about speed.
15:07It was about precision.
15:08And that's what made his heists legendary.
15:11Yang's crew had not one but two getaway cars in play.
15:14One car was ready to whisk them away at a moment's notice.
15:17The second car circled a wider area, staying on high alert, just in case the police were
15:22trailing the stolen vehicle.
15:24When Yang felt the coast was clear and there was no danger, he signaled to bring the loot-laden
15:29vehicle back to the safety of their secret warehouse.
15:32Inside the warehouse, Yang had a team of experts, and they were all about preserving the integrity
15:38of the stolen goods.
15:40They treated the vehicles like delicate works of art, aiming to make them appear fresh off
15:44the showroom floor.
15:46The Chinese team took charge of this crucial stage.
15:48They examined the vehicles with a fine-tooth comb, fixed any issues, repaired locks, created
15:55new keys, and reprogrammed the car's computer.
15:58Once the Chinese crew finished their magic, it was time to get the show on the road, but
16:03not in a straightforward way.
16:05Yang didn't want the authorities sniffing around the ports and containers.
16:09They were getting smarter, especially with the rise in heists.
16:12They loaded those beauties into containers they'd brought themselves.
16:16To avoid raising eyebrows, they had to match the weight on the manifest with what was inside.
16:21So, what did they claim was in those containers?
16:24Food.
16:25Yep.
16:25They went as far as making sure the weight of the imaginary food matched the real cars.
16:30But that's not all.
16:31They created fake manifests for the shipment, cunningly listing the contents as food.
16:36This was a heist, not a comedy show.
16:38There was no room for mistakes.
16:40Now you might think they'd send the container straight to the nearest port.
16:44Well, not in Yang's playbook.
16:46He knew the heat was on, and the cops were itching to arrest him.
16:50So, he made a power move.
16:52Instead of playing it safe and heading to the nearest port, they shipped those pricey cars
16:57from the farthest one.
16:58Yang was playing chess, while everyone else was playing checkers.
17:02To get the job done, they'd start by sneaking their loot into a container.
17:06Now they didn't want to keep it too close to home.
17:08So, they shipped it off to New Jersey.
17:10For those not well-versed in U.S. geography, that's just a stone's throw away from the hustle
17:15and bustle of New York City.
17:17But they didn't stop there.
17:19They'd load that container onto a train moving across the country.
17:22From the bustling east coast to the far-flung west coast in California, they were covering
17:27some serious ground.
17:29Yang wasn't just out to avoid the local police.
17:31He had his sights set on California's ports.
17:34Why California?
17:36Well, it's a lot closer to China, which is Yang's ultimate destination.
17:40You see, California sits right on the western edge of the U.S., making it a convenient gateway
17:45to the east.
17:46It's a two-birds-one-stone kind of deal, dodging the authorities and getting closer to the bustling
17:51markets of China.
17:52Now, when the container reaches one of California's ports, it's just another food container.
17:57Nothing to raise eyebrows.
17:58But here's where the magic happens.
18:00The ship isn't bound for China.
18:02Nope.
18:03It's going in another direction.
18:04But hold on.
18:05They've got another trick up their sleeves.
18:07Midway through the journey, they meet another ship in the middle of the ocean.
18:11You know what they do?
18:12They secretly transfer the container to the second ship, which is bound for China.
18:17What's more, the folks running the second ship are in on the secret.
18:20They know exactly what's in that container, and they even have a manifest with all the details
18:25of the cars inside.
18:26So, Yang and his gang ran this operation for a solid five years.
18:31In that time, they managed to swipe thousands of cars from the streets of New York, leaving
18:37the police scratching their heads.
18:39Yang's gang remained elusive despite the staggering number of stolen cars and the millions they
18:44made.
18:44Now, you might think the demand for these hot cars would cool off, but it was quite the
18:49opposite.
18:50China couldn't get enough of them, putting pressure on Yang to up the ante.
18:53Yang and his gang were struggling to keep up with the demand, so they decided to take things
18:59up a notch.
19:00They turned their sights to car dealerships, the perfect place to nab several cars at once.
19:05What's better than stealing one car?
19:07How about several in one go?
19:09One of Yang's henchmen, Mario, went undercover as a potential customer at a dealership.
19:14He was there for a test drive, but not the kind you're thinking of.
19:18He was there to get details.
19:20While chatting with the salesman, Mario was monitoring the layout of the shop.
19:24He noticed the sneaky spot where the car keys were stashed, a box securely fixed to the wall
19:30within the manager's office.
19:32With a sly nod of gratitude to the unsuspecting salesman, he left.
19:36A few days later, Mario and his gang returned to the dealership after closing hours.
19:41Like a mastermind, he quietly broke in, his sights set squarely on the manager's office,
19:47or more precisely, the treasure chest of car keys.
19:50Inside that unassuming box lay the keys to a dazzling collection of luxury cars.
19:56And outside, in the shadows, his loyal crew waited patiently, ready to spring into action
20:02at his signal.
20:03Mario gave the nod, and like a perfectly orchestrated symphony, seven of them entered the scene.
20:09Each of his accomplices grabbed a set of keys, and they drove off in different directions.
20:13The entire operation happened with breathtaking efficiency, taking a mere three minutes from
20:18start to finish.
20:19By the time the alarm system sounded and sent an electronic SOS to the police, Mario and
20:25his friends were already fading into the night, leaving only tire tracks in their wake.
20:29It was a heist so swift and well executed that it seemed almost otherworldly.
20:34But, as fate would have it, one of the seven stolen cars had an accident.
20:38When the police reached the scene of the accident, they were surprised to discover that the wrecked
20:43vehicle was, in fact, a stolen one.
20:46The unlucky thief found himself in handcuffs and underwent a thorough grilling by the relentless
20:51investigators.
20:53Following some persuasive police tactics, this newfound captive began to sing.
20:58He spilled the beans on the entire operation.
21:01Mario and Dean, the architects of this grand heist, were in the spotlight.
21:05The police decided it was high time to track down Dean.
21:09The unlucky thief had told the police that Dean was the mastermind behind the car theft
21:13operation.
21:14Armed with this info, they assembled a team of investigators and set them on Dean's trail.
21:20These officers went to great lengths to follow Dean, and after some time, Dean unknowingly
21:25led them to Yang's warehouse.
21:26But the police weren't about to bust through the front door.
21:30Instead, they parked their cars a safe distance away and settled in for a good old-fashioned
21:34stakeout, hoping to uncover the secrets hidden within the warehouse's walls.
21:39But Yang had an ace up his sleeve in the form of his old buddy, Chao.
21:43Chao was no stranger to keeping an eye on things, and he immediately spotted those nosy investigators
21:48and their parked cars.
21:50Yang, well prepared and unshaken by the situation, had organized his warehouse to be the ultimate
21:55disappearing act.
21:57While the investigators gathered intel, Yang kept his cool and refrained from bringing any
22:02new cars into the warehouse.
22:03But the place still housed some valuable wheels, along with tools for fixing them.
22:08So what's a crafty criminal to do?
22:10Yang hatched a plan to move everything out without raising suspicion.
22:14To throw the police off the scent, Yang brought in a few trucks, seemingly loaded with
22:19food.
22:20You see, the investigators assumed they were staking out a food warehouse, not a den of thieves.
22:26Yang played it cool and, right under their noses, loaded up all his cars and equipment,
22:32blending in with the innocent hustle and bustle of a supposed food transport operation.
22:36The next day, when the police returned for round two of surveillance, they were in for
22:40a surprise.
22:41The warehouse looked just as it did the day before, and to their bafflement, it seemed
22:46like no one had entered or left.
22:48Yang had pulled off an ingenious disappearing act, leaving the investigators scratching their
22:52heads.
22:53They were taken by surprise, and that was the moment they said, let's make a move.
22:57They decided to break in and search the place for evidence, but they came up empty-handed.
23:02The gang had outsmarted them during the surveillance, leaving the investigators scratching their heads.
23:07You see, the elusive Yang had been playing a game of hide-and-seek, refusing to make a
23:12grand entrance in front of the determined detectives.
23:15To add to their troubles, they didn't have a clue what this mysterious character looked like.
23:20So, where did they turn?
23:22Well, back to an old acquaintance they knew well, Dean.
23:24At first, they contemplated arresting Dean, but cooler heeds prevailed.
23:29Instead, they opted to keep Dean under a watchful eye yet again.
23:33They had their fingers crossed, hoping to nab the entire gang or, at the very least, the
23:39lion's share.
23:40Their quest wasn't just about catching the culprits.
23:42They also wanted to discover the whereabouts of those missing cars.
23:46The investigators decided to take it up a notch.
23:49They sought permission from the court to eavesdrop on Dean's phone conversations.
23:52What did they discover?
23:54Well, it seemed like a broken record.
23:56Call after call, the same questions cropped up.
23:59Are the agents still keeping tabs?
24:00Did they put a stop to the surveillance?
24:02When are they coming back?
24:03Dean's replies were almost comically consistent.
24:06I don't know.
24:07It was clear to the investigators that these inquisitive voices on the other end were likely
24:12Dean's partners in crime.
24:13After six long months of surveillance, a key player entered the scene.
24:18A certain Kenny.
24:19Kenny had news for Dean.
24:20News of an order for 260.
24:23But he didn't exactly spill the beans on what this 260 meant.
24:26Kenny's words were cryptic as if he knew he was being watched.
24:29This raised red flags for the investigators.
24:32They suspected that Kenny could be the elusive gang leader and that the gang might be gearing
24:37up for another round of thievery.
24:39What the investigators didn't know was that Yang was genuinely paranoid about phone surveillance.
24:44He communicated in coded language to avoid detection, switching phones at intervals and disposing
24:49of them, rendering their tracking efforts increasingly complicated.
24:53To further complicate matters, he instructed his gang members to frequently change their
24:58phones, making it even more challenging for investigators to keep up.
25:02As they required court approval for wiretapping each new phone number, the investigators had
25:08their work cut out for them.
25:09Getting court approvals for phone surveillance was just the tip of the iceberg in their relentless
25:14pursuit of cracking this case.
25:16Every time one of these shady characters switched phones, the investigators were on high alert.
25:21How'd they stay in the loop?
25:22Turns out, they were still tapping into their family connections.
25:26Like take Dean.
25:27He used to ring up his missus.
25:29So even when he got a new phone, they'd sniff out his new digits through his wife's calls.
25:34Once they nailed Dean's new number, it was like a green light for a whole snooping spree.
25:38They got the court's blessing to continue eavesdropping on him.
25:42Through his chats with his partners in crime, they unraveled this whole web of numbers.
25:47It was a long, exhausting process, but it paid off big time.
25:51The investigators were banking on hitting the jackpot.
25:54For the first time in this wild tale, the detectives weren't playing catch-up.
25:58And to make matters worse for the big boss, Yang, his crew wasn't as slick as he was.
26:04His bud Chow, for instance, was blabbing about dinner spots on the phone like it was no
26:08big deal.
26:09That made it easier to tail them.
26:11The investigators milked that info, sending an undercover Chinese officer to the restaurant
26:15where Chow and Yang met.
26:17Finally, they got a close-up of the mastermind they'd been chasing for years.
26:21And the planted officer.
26:23He got the lowdown on a new warehouse these crooks were eyeing.
26:26The cops set up a whole surveillance gig.
26:28No flashing lights or sirens.
26:30They were slicker.
26:31They planted cameras and GPS trackers on containers heading to that dodgy warehouse.
26:37These guys were stepping up their game.
26:39It was a whole new ballgame, and the cops were calling the shots.
26:42Meanwhile, Yang, oblivious, kept hustling, bringing in new wheels and brainstorming new
26:48ways to steal.
26:49Little did he know, the tables had turned and the cops were playing chess while he was stuck
26:54playing checkers.
26:55Because of the blowback from the heist on the car dealership, the gang moved to garages.
27:01Stealing cars from parking garages might not seem like the smartest way to go about a heist,
27:06but Yang and his gang had a plan that proved otherwise.
27:09In some parking garages, car owners trust the guard with their keys so he can move their
27:15vehicles if needed.
27:16It's a bit like a car ballet, with the guard as the conductor.
27:20Mario Lopez, Dean's friend, a member of this cunning gang, had a bright idea.
27:25He approached one of these parking garage guards with an offer that was hard to refuse.
27:30$500 for each car they allowed the gang to steal.
27:33To put this into perspective, it was like tempting a hungry fox with a juicy chicken.
27:38The guard's salary wasn't exactly making him rich, so the guard bit the bait, and the
27:43gang got a green light to go on a car-stealing spree.
27:46They set up a secret meeting with the guard, promising to keep their end of the deal.
27:50Little did he know, they had other plans for him.
27:52When the guard showed up for the rendezvous, they swiftly took his keys, tied him up, and
27:58left him inside the garage.
27:59Why, you ask?
28:01Well, it was a clever move to make sure no one suspected his involvement.
28:05This way, if anyone stumbled upon a tied-up guard, they'd think it was a classic case of
28:10a bad day at work.
28:11The gang then revved up the engines of the luxurious cars and zoomed out of the garage,
28:16leaving behind the immobilized guard.
28:18But, as with all heists, the story didn't end there.
28:22Shortly after, someone discovered the tied-up guard and, naturally, called the police.
28:28By the time the cops arrived at the scene, the stolen cars were safely tucked away in
28:33their secret hideout.
28:34However, hold on to your seatbelts.
28:36This heist had a twist coming.
28:38Remember when I said these thieves waited a couple of days after stealing a car to make
28:42sure no one was on their tail?
28:43Well, it appears they got a bit too comfortable in their criminal endeavors.
28:47Perhaps it was the high of successful heists, too much pressure from China, or maybe just
28:52pure recklessness.
28:54In any case, they didn't wait this time.
28:56They drove the stolen cars directly to their warehouse, oblivious to the fact that one of
29:00these luxury vehicles might have been equipped with a GPS tracking device.
29:04The police had been tipped off by one of the car owners, who noticed their missing
29:08ride and decided to play detective.
29:11Unfortunately, a local police officer unknowingly enters the scene.
29:15He had no idea that an investigation was in progress, or that the biggest car theft gang
29:20in all of America was right under his nose.
29:23He simply followed the GPS signal and found himself standing at the gang's secret lair.
29:29Meanwhile, the investigators were frantically watching the surveillance cameras on the other
29:33side.
29:34They realized their grand operation was on the verge of being exposed.
29:38The officers' presence threatened to bring the curtain down on their carefully orchestrated
29:42heist.
29:43As the police officer approached the warehouse, a rather unexpected twist occurred.
29:48The workers who had been tucked away inside suddenly burst out, running as if their lives
29:53depended on it.
29:54You can bet your bottom dollar they must have spotted the officer on their surveillance cameras.
29:59Now, as the investigators caught sight of this unexpected escape, it was clear they had
30:03to move fast.
30:05This was their golden opportunity to swoop in and apprehend the gang.
30:08No second chances here.
30:10In a flash, they rounded up the workers who had just vacated the warehouse.
30:15However, Yang, known as Kenny to his buddies, was conspicuously absent from the roundup.
30:21The investigators knew he'd vanish into thin air if he got wind of their bust.
30:25Thankfully, they have a surveillance unit that has been quietly keeping tabs on Yang's
30:30residence for some time.
30:31They'd been snooping around and had pinpointed the location of his hideout.
30:35The police had eyes on him from a safe distance, and as soon as the warehouse workers were safely
30:40in cuffs, they gave the green light to pounce.
30:42The showdown with Kenny went down that very night, when he casually strolled out of his
30:47front door.
30:48After intense questioning, it was revealed that his real name wasn't Kenny, but Min Jin
30:53Yang.
30:53It turned out that he had a background in military intelligence within the Chinese army.
30:58No wonder he had outfoxed them for so long.
31:00However, one crucial piece of the puzzle remained unsolved.
31:03The police couldn't figure out where all those stolen cars ended up.
31:07The raid had been executed earlier than planned, leaving them high and dry on that front.
31:12They had no clue where these vehicles were being shipped off to, or where they were finding
31:16their new owners.
31:18In a surprising turn of events, Yang eventually admitted to enterprise corruption.
31:23The odd part was, they couldn't slap him with car theft charges, because, as it turned
31:27out, he wasn't the one physically swiping the vehicles.
31:31Despite all the chaos, Yang ended up with a mere 10-year sentence, even though he'd managed
31:36to make off with thousands of cars over the past decade.
31:40Experts estimated his ill-gotten gains to be worth a staggering $40 million, which today
31:46would be roughly $75 million.
31:48That's some serious cash, but the police never saw a single red cent of it.
31:53Yang had stashed his fortune in China, and it seemed he had outsmarted law enforcement in
31:58the end.
31:59In the grand scheme of things, Yang became the tricky victor in this game of cat and
32:03mouse with the police.
32:04His one slip-up didn't quite seal his fate, and he walked away with his ill-gotten fortune.
32:10If you found this video intriguing, click the link on your screen to explore other amazing
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