Over a span of five years, 900 Kia engines were stolen without detection. | Carscoops

      Police have found that someone altered the records at the plant to conceal the missing engines.

      6 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      Initially, police believed the engines might have been stolen during transit.

      However, authorities now suspect that factory records were manipulated to cover up the crime.

      It’s not common to hear about hundreds of car engines disappearing from a factory, but that’s precisely what has occurred at a Kia plant in India. Over the last five years, approximately 900 engines are thought to have been stolen right under Kia's nose at its production facility in Andhra Pradesh. Local police now suspect that the sophisticated theft may involve both former and current employees.

      Kia reportedly discovered the missing engines during a year-end audit in March. Upon identifying discrepancies, the automaker notified local authorities, who have since initiated an investigation into the theft.

      As you can imagine, stealing an engine without detection is not an ordinary crime, especially not nearly 1,000 of them. Police initially thought the engines could have been stolen during transit. Nevertheless, preliminary investigation results indicate that the engines were actually taken from the plant, with records being altered to prevent detection.

      A Theft Hidden in Plain Sight

      Police admit they are still unclear about how the engines were removed from the plant. It is also uncertain why the engines were specifically targeted. While stealing engines from a car factory may sound like a plot for the next Fast and Furious movie, it's likely that, unlike Dominic Toretto and his crew, who might rely on force, the thieves in this incident were more discreet, which may explain the long duration of the undetected thefts.

      In an interview with Economic Times in India, local police stated they have formed three special teams to investigate the case and are currently traveling across the country to gather vital information.

      “Preliminary investigations indicate that the engines were stolen in a systematic and planned way,” local authorities said. “It is evident that some insiders are involved. We suspect there was collusion between certain former and current employees.”

      Recovering the missing engines may be a considerable challenge. Many may have already been sold, either to repair shops or private buyers. Some might have been installed in vehicles, while others could have left the country altogether. Tracing them now could be nearly impossible without clear records or identification numbers.