Japan is known for its low crime rate, but when theft does happen, it tends to follow three oddly specific patterns:

  1. Underwear theft (a crime so widespread it’s practically a category of its own),
  2. Bicycle theft (so common that police spend half their time tracking down stolen bikes),
  3. Toyota Alphard theft (a sophisticated, lucrative crime wave targeting one of Japan’s most luxurious minivans).

One of these is very different from the others—but strangely, they all share something in common: victims rarely get their stolen possessions back. Whether it’s a missing pair of lingerie, a borrowed bicycle, or a hacked Alphard, criminals in Japan have become increasingly adept at getting away with their loot.

Let’s dive into each crime type and examine why Alphard theft is evolving into a nationwide crisis.

 

Panty Theft: The Bizarre Phenomenon That Has Haunted Japan for Decades

Yes, this is a real crime problem. As embarrassing as it sounds, underwear theft is so frequent in Japan that police stations literally have departments dedicated to tracking down serial offenders.

Some cases border on the absurd. In one highly publicized incident, authorities raided a suspect’s home and uncovered 10,000 pairs of stolen panties—an overwhelming sight that left officers speechless.

Japan’s Most Stolen Items: Panties, Bicycles, and Toyota Alphards—A Crime Wave of Unusual Proportions
Link to more details if you are interested into panty crime 😊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kmz0e27tV8&ab_channel=AskJapanese

While some criminals claim psychological compulsion as their excuse, victims are left feeling deeply violated. It’s not just a petty theft issue—it’s about privacy invasion. Many stolen items are taken directly from balconies, where residents air-dry their laundry. Some burglars even sneak into homes just for a chance to steal undergarments.

 

Bicycle Theft: Japan’s Most Annoying Everyday Crime

Compared to Alphard theft, bicycle theft is low-stakes but high-volume.

There are an estimated 72 million bicycles in Japan, and thousands disappear every month. Unlike Alphard theft, which requires advanced hacking or organized crime networks, bicycle theft often happens for convenience rather than profit.

Common scenarios include:

  • Drunken joyrides: Late at night, some intoxicated individuals simply grab a bike and ride off, dumping it somewhere later.
  • Casual “borrowing”: Some thieves don’t even consider themselves criminals—they just see an unlocked bike and assume “If the owner really cared, they’d lock it”.
  • Organized resale operations: More recently, some thieves have begun stealing bikes in bulk, reselling them overseas or locally via secondhand shops.

Japanese police regularly conduct random bicycle registration checks, but catching offenders is difficult—most bikes are either abandoned or passed onto new owners before a report is filed.

Toyota Alphard: Japan’s Most Sophisticated Auto Theft Epidemic

Now, onto the real crisis: the Toyota Alphard theft phenomenon.

Results of the 26th Car Theft Accident Survey" announced by the General Insurance Association of Japan
Results of the 26th Car Theft Accident Survey" announced by the General Insurance Association of Japan

Why Is the Alphard the #2 Target for Car Thieves?

Unlike panties or bicycles, the Alphard is targeted by professional criminals—often connected to international crime syndicates. The reasons?

  • High resale value – The Alphard is one of Japan’s most expensive and prestigious minivans, often used by executives, celebrities, and families.
  • Black market demand – In regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, stolen Alphards are either resold or dismantled for parts.
  • Flawed security systems – Toyota’s smart key technology has vulnerabilities that criminals have exploited using hacking tools.

How Are Alphards Stolen?

Thieves use three primary methods to steal Alphards:

  1. CAN Invader Attacks: The Silent Hack

The Controller Area Network (CAN) system controls many electronic functions in modern vehicles. Criminals use CAN invaders, small hacking devices that bypass security protocols, allowing them to remotely unlock Alphards and even start the engine—without needing the key.

How Does It Work?

  • Thieves access the CAN bus through a vulnerable point, often near the front wheel well.
  • They disconnect the headlight ECU and plug in a CAN Invader device.
  • The device sends fake signals, tricking the car into thinking a legitimate key fob is present.
  • Within seconds, the Alphard unlocks and starts, allowing thieves to drive away unnoticed.

This method is extremely dangerous because it leaves no trace—meaning owners often have no idea how their car was stolen until security footage reveals an Alphard simply being driven away.

  1. Relay Attacks: Hijacking the Key Signal

Thieves intercept the signal from a key fob inside a victim’s home, tricking the car into unlocking itself. This method allows criminals to steal Alphards without breaking into the vehicle.

How Does It Work?

  • A thief stands near the victim’s home with a signal amplifier.
  • The amplifier captures the key fob’s signal and extends its range.
  • The Alphard thinks the key is nearby and unlocks itself.
  • The thief drives away, leaving no physical evidence behind.

Relay attacks are especially common in residential areas, where Alphard owners park close to their homes.

  1. Fake Towing Operations: The Old-School Method

Some criminals skip the hacking and simply tow Alphards away, pretending to be legitimate towing services.

How Does It Work?

  • Thieves arrive in a tow truck, wearing fake uniforms.
  • They hook up the Alphard and drive off, pretending it’s a legal repossession.
  • The stolen vehicle is quickly dismantled or shipped overseas.

This method is shockingly effective, as bystanders rarely question a tow truck operation.

 

Real Cases: Alphards Stolen in Seconds

Case 1: The 30-Second Alphard Heist

In Johor, Malaysia, a high-tech car theft syndicate was busted after stealing Toyota Alphards in just 30 seconds.

  • Thieves used electronic programmers to bypass the Alphard’s security system.
  • A GPS jammer disabled tracking, making recovery nearly impossible.
  • The stolen Alphards were smuggled across borders, fetching up to RM40,000 ($12,000 USD) each on the black market.

This case highlights how organized crime groups are using cutting-edge technology to steal Alphards faster than ever before. More details here: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/07/25/it-takes-just-30-seconds-to-steal-a-car-and-thieves-are-targeting-toyotas-say-johor-cops-video/144941

Case 2: The Alphard That Vanished Overnight

A Toyota Alphard owner in Japan woke up to find his car missing from his driveway. Security footage revealed:

  • Two masked individuals approached the vehicle at 3 AM.
  • Within 45 seconds, they had unlocked and started the Alphard using a relay attack.
  • The car was driven away without triggering any alarms.

The Alphard was never recovered, likely shipped overseas within days.

More details and photos here: https://kuruma-news.jp/photo/910656

Case 3: The Alphard Dumped in the Ocean

One of the most bizarre Alphard theft cases occurred in Yokohama, where a stolen Alphard was later found submerged in the ocean near Aichi Prefecture.

How Did It Happen?

  • The Alphard was stolen from a parking lot in Yokohama.
  • Thieves drove recklessly, ignoring traffic signals and speeding through the city.
  • The vehicle’s dashcam recorded their conversations, revealing their excitement over the theft.
  • After failing to sell the stolen Alphard, the criminals dumped it into the ocean, where it was later discovered by a fisherman.

This case highlights a new trend—when criminals fail to find buyers, they abandon stolen vehicles rather than risk getting caught.

The Bigger Problem: Organized Crime and Insurance Costs

Alphard theft isn’t just a personal loss for individual owners—it’s fueling organized crime networks and driving up insurance costs.

  1. Crime Syndicates Are Expanding

The rising profits from stolen Alphards are strengthening international crime rings, making them more technologically advanced and harder to catch.

  1. Insurance Premiums Are Increasing

With Alphard theft rising dramatically, insurance companies are hiking premiums, making ownership more expensive.

Final Thoughts: Alphard Owners Beware

The Alphard’s luxury status has made it a top target for thieves, with high-tech hacking methods and international smuggling operations fueling the crime wave.

If you own an Alphard, take extra precautions—because criminals are always watching. And if it’s of any comfort, LandCruiser leads in terms of stolen or wanted cars by the bad guys, followed by Alphard and Hiace.

 

What measures can you take to prevent your car from being stolen?

Lock the steering wheel, brake pedal, and tires
Physically locking the steering wheel, brake pedal, and tires will prevent theft. It also has a visual appeal, which is said to have a deterrent effect as criminals will be put off by it. Some criminals will cut and remove the handlebars, so it is necessary to install a strong bar-type steering wheel lock.

Park the left side of the car against a wall
CAN Invader, which targets newer cars, connects a device near the left front tire to seize control of the car. One effective countermeasure is to park the left side of the car against a wall to prevent people from getting in near the left front tire.

Manage your keys. Install an aftermarket immobilizer.
There have been many cases of keys being stolen from key boxes at the front door or in the office, and cars being stolen as well. Keys can also be opened using a method known as a “relay attack” that exploits the radio waves of smart key systems. Store your keys in a special case that attenuates radio waves, or in a container made of tin or aluminum foil, in a hard-to-find place. It is also effective to install an aftermarket immobilizer or other electronic device that will prevent the engine from starting.

The CAN Invader method involves installing a car alarm (with a vibration sensor)
and breaking into the car by disabling the security system connected to the car. A battery-operated “car alarm” (with a vibration sensor) that is independent of the one installed in the car is installed on the door.

Install an in-car GPS device
Some vehicles come with a factory-installed GPS, but criminals may disable the factory GPS. By installing a separate GPS in a place that is difficult for criminals to find, you can check the vehicle’s location and find it.

Installing anti-theft screws for license plate
It is said that criminals change the license plate number after theft and then move on. By changing the screw head to a special shape, it becomes difficult to remove the license plate, preventing theft.

Store your car in a garage that cannot be seen from the outside.
Even if it is a parking lot on your property, there are many cases of theft. If possible, store your car in a garage that cannot be seen from the outside, making it harder for criminal groups to find and steal.