They took $2.5 million worth of luxury vehicles and rented them out on a well-known platform | Carscoops

      Authorities report that the suspects rented vehicles obtained through theft on Turo, and the company fully cooperated, resulting in their apprehension.

      On June 21, 2025, at 21:11, Stephen Rivers wrote:

      Law enforcement in Arizona recently dismantled what they describe as a multi-million dollar car theft operation. They recovered 29 vehicles, cash, and multiple firearms while arresting three individuals.

      According to officials, the suspects rented out the stolen cars on Turo to maximize their profits from the illicit activities.

      If you’ve recently borrowed a car in the Phoenix area, there is a possibility it was involved in a crime. Local law enforcement has discovered a theft ring that was renting high-end vehicles on Turo, a well-known car-sharing platform, as part of a complicated scheme. Ultimately, three individuals with international connections have been arrested, and authorities have recovered 29 stolen cars valued at nearly $2.5 million.

      In an operation dubbed “Operation Escalading Switch,” the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force carried out multiple search warrants on Tuesday. They found over two dozen cars, several of which had their vehicle identification numbers tampered with. Authorities indicated that many of these vehicles appeared on Turo within a week of being stolen.

      Among the retrieved cars were a Chevrolet Corvette, a Rolls-Royce Ghost, an Aston Martin DBX, and a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. So, if you’ve rented one of these vehicles recently, you might have been driving something with a more questionable history than you realized.

      “This operation underscores the effectiveness of collaborative law enforcement and the commitment of our Vehicle Theft Task Force,” stated Colonel Jeffrey Glover, Director of the AZDPS. “We are dedicated to safeguarding Arizona’s communities, and this operation sends a strong message to those involved in organized crime.”

      During the operation, officers also found cash and firearms, leading to the arrest of Ali Ahmad, 29, Delia Rocha, 32, and Mario Rodriguez, 33, all from Glendale, AZ. Given their connections to both Mexico and the Middle East, they were considered a flight risk and were quickly detained.

      Turo played a critical role in these arrests. In a statement to AZFamily, the company expressed gratitude to AZDPS, the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force, and Turo’s dedicated Trust and Safety investigators for their collaboration in removing these criminals from the streets of the Phoenix area.

      It appears that one of the suspects had insider access to the Arizona DMV.

      “Unfortunately, this host’s insider access to the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles enabled them to pass off stolen vehicles as legitimate rentals,” remarked Turo’s spokesperson. “We immediately worked with investigators to uncover the full operation. Furthermore, criminal activity is very rare on our platform, and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for it.”

      Given this information, it seems that such incidents should be relatively uncommon. However, it serves as a reminder that criminals often exploit systems as best they can, but there is no such thing as a flawless crime.