Japanese super-thief uses GPS to steal rental cars

A criminal mastermind named Mitsuhisa Kobayashi has been arrested for a series of GPS-related car thefts in Japan. According to reports, Kobayashi was responsible for stealing eight cars in the Hyogo Prefecture, five of which he sold on the internet. The man -- a former auto factory worker -- used two ex-wives to rent the cars, and would then make copies of the keys and install GPS units or cellphones with GPS capabilities inside the vehicles. Kobayashi would use the devices to track the cars' locations, then steal them once they had been moved from the rental firm. Unfortunately, his accomplices used ID's which led the authorities right to his front door. Whoops.

[Via GPS Tracking Systems; Thanks, Rich]

[Zak @ May 23rd 2008 12:05PM]

Note to self - when stealing cars, don't use ex-wives as accomplices.

[DWells55 @ May 23rd 2008 3:22PM]

Note to self - when doing anything, don't use ex-wives as accomplices.

[Idlemind @ May 23rd 2008 12:05PM]

All Intelligence.... No Street smarts

[Kent @ May 23rd 2008 12:09PM]

Kobayashi Maru for the no-win!

[Speney G @ May 23rd 2008 12:48PM]

That was definitely the first thing I thought of. As Kirk was given an award for "original thinking," this guy should be given an award for moronic thinking.

[Raytaka1222 @ May 23rd 2008 1:14PM]

HAHA +1

[Raytaka1222 @ May 23rd 2008 1:14PM]

HAHA +1

[Raytaka1222 @ May 23rd 2008 1:18PM]

HAHA +1

[Jonathan @ May 23rd 2008 1:38PM]

HAHA -2

[Mr. S. @ May 23rd 2008 2:02PM]

Nerds*









*I got it though. :-|

[Temple @ May 23rd 2008 3:58PM]

First thing I thought of was Mr. Kobayashi, Keyser Söze's criminal-lawyer, from the movie The Usual Suspects. I'll admit the Star Trek reference also came to mind.

[chamo @ May 23rd 2008 12:09PM]

Hahaha! That's smart... to get caught!

[Kurian @ May 23rd 2008 12:13PM]

You'd think your ex-wife(s) would do their best to screw you over...

[Drew @ May 23rd 2008 12:27PM]

Is that suppose to be a Buick Grand National?

[Andrew @ May 23rd 2008 1:06PM]

Hey, thats Niko Bellic, I know him!

[fistpittingnork @ May 23rd 2008 2:52PM]

That's the first thing I noticed.

No "turbo hood", just a 267 Regal.

: (

[Trey @ May 23rd 2008 12:33PM]

Jiggaboo Jones loves to do this too

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-RzCpxe6RK0

[tydei8 @ May 23rd 2008 12:34PM]

Get a life

[tydei8 @ May 23rd 2008 1:01PM]

Hey, they deleted the persons comment I was telling to get a life. Oh well, he deserved it.

[rxse7en @ May 23rd 2008 12:38PM]

Buick GN was only in black, no? If so, that would be a T-Type.

[Adam @ May 23rd 2008 12:40PM]

I think that's a misuse of the word "mastermind."

Anyway, the headline reminded me of a story (urban myth?) about someone hacking the "unlock" signal (TeleAid and OnStar.)

[Jaq @ May 23rd 2008 12:41PM]

Wasn't he in the Usual Suspects

[Warren @ May 23rd 2008 12:53PM]

yeah! Thats what I was thinking.... Mr. Kobayashi.... He was in a barber shop quartet in Skokie Illinois.

[StreetStealth @ May 23rd 2008 1:45PM]

*turns teacup over*

OMG

[NHAnimator @ May 23rd 2008 2:05PM]

Soylent Green is people!!!

(oops. sorry, wrong spoiler)

[david @ May 23rd 2008 12:45PM]

I've never played GTA, but would your elbow really be your best option for busting out a window? Why not get one of those little emergency escape hammers from QVC? I know, maybe I'm just a whimp, and I'm sure it's more impressive with your elbow.

[BowserUSC @ May 23rd 2008 2:25PM]

I know you were making a joke but the elbow actually is one of the hardest parts of your body, much harder than your fist.

[Brian @ May 23rd 2008 4:07PM]

Actually, there's more street cred busting out a window with your elbow.

[david @ May 23rd 2008 4:38PM]

$5 American to whoever sends me a link to a video of them busting out the window of a car with their elbow. Of course, you'll have to be wearing a ten-gallon hat or something so I know you didn't just dig something up on youtube. Not kidding. $5.

[BlowURmindBowel @ May 23rd 2008 12:50PM]

The trick to smashing car windows is to swing whatever part of your body you are using WAAAY harder than you think is necessary. If you hit it hard enough to break the glass you will barely feel it. If don't hit it hard enough... Well then you will be in a technicolor world of pain.

[IT-Accountant @ May 23rd 2008 1:04PM]

good to know. see, there are real-world benefits to playing GTA4!


lol

[Andrew @ May 23rd 2008 1:11PM]

AAAHAHAHA!!!

I remember watching this news reporter try to smash a window with a crowbar and couldn't do it, just kept bouncing off... haha

Well, I was watching "The Fast and the Furious", and all you *really* need to do is take your shirt off to show your buff man-muscles, and then the window shatters in fright, or wrap the shirt around your fist.

And, the more stickers you have on your car and the bigger the NASA wing on the back, the faster it goes...

[Tony @ May 23rd 2008 2:32PM]

You could just use ninja rocks to shatter the glass silently.

They're the white part of spark plugs.

[Idlemind @ May 23rd 2008 1:01PM]

"Wracked with envy over his brothers Hotdog eating fame, Mitsuhisa turned to crime..."




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeru_Kobayashi

[Ryan @ May 23rd 2008 4:06PM]

Exactly what I thought of. Hot dogs, FTW!

[Iphtashu Fitz @ May 23rd 2008 1:27PM]

Keyser Söze does not approve of his lawyer moonlighting on the side as a car thief.

[Nathan @ May 23rd 2008 5:48PM]

I recall a youtube video from "Jiggaboo Jones" which detailed this exact same thing. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/gangs-aint-stupid-gps-rental-car-theft-l361-week-2/3364362784 I think that's the video... not sure tho... Kinda wierd.

[thedesolate1 @ May 23rd 2008 9:47PM]

Never underestimate the usefulness of Ex Wives.. lol

[brandon beebox @ May 24th 2008 11:11AM]

i did it in germany once, i was drunk out of my assinine and the cab driver tried to stiff me on my change (30 euro) because i threw up outside his car (some did spray on the backside of benz). He tried to leave and i busted his window with my elbow. One hour later the polizei came in my hotel room and arrested me.