Vehicles Stolen in the US Are Smuggled into Mexico, Making Recovery Nearly Impossible

Returning home after a month, Catherine Vermillion discovered her parking space in San Diego was empty.

She recounted to CBS News, "I suddenly realized my vehicle wasn't there. Fortunately, I had placed an AirTag inside, so upon checking my phone, I saw it located in Tijuana, Mexico."

Seeing its last location brought about a wave of shock and disbelief.

This disbelief soon morphed into frustration when told by local authorities they could not assist.

"They informed me that since the car had crossed borders, retrieval was beyond their ability, even though it was only a 45-minute drive away," Vermillion explained.

This is not just Vermillion's frustration but also an issue for the California Highway Patrol.

"We face limitations at international borders," noted CHP Lieutenant David Navarro.

He highlighted that organized criminal groups particularly target luxury SUVs, pickup trucks, and performance vehicles for theft in the U.S. The problem is profitable, hard to track, and quite challenging to retrieve post-border crossing.

In the past four years alone, data from the CHP indicates a 79% increase in vehicles crossing the border from California, Arizona, and Texas.

"Imagine a car stolen at night. If the owner notices it's gone by morning, there's a gap of several crucial hours," Navarro explained. "If it's not logged into the system in that time and slips past surveillance, there's no alert trigger."

This is what happened to Vermillion's Jeep. However, uniquely, she was aware of its location—a mere 46 miles away across the border in Tijuana.

Phil Mohr, a veteran repossession expert and vehicle recovery specialist in Mexico, came into the picture.

Mohr revealed that many such vehicles find their stop near Tijuana's airport, just meters away.

"It's a coordinated drop-off location," Mohr explained.

Federal authorities informed CBS News that organized crime often drives these vehicles into Mexico, using them for illicit activities such as trafficking drugs and arms.

Employing his expertise and teaming up with local Mexican authorities, Mohr managed to retrieve Vermillion’s car and returned it to San Diego.

"It's a feeling of triumph," Mohr said. "Restoring what was lost feels like correcting an injustice in the world."

Her neighbor snapped a photo capturing the joyous return of Vermillion's vehicle by Mohr.

"I found myself raising my hands in surprise," Vermillion said. "That day felt absolutely wonderful."

While it was a day of celebration for Vermillion, others seldom experience the same fortune.