Alleged Los Angeles Car Theft Ring Exposed By Victim

A woman’s Nissan 370Z was stolen by so-called “strikers,” and she exposed them in a series of Instagram posts.

Nissan 370Z Theft

Photo by: @goodiezy / Instagram

Chris Rosales

By: Chris Rosales

Apr 16, at 9:00am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

The Breakdown

A woman's Nissan 370Z was stolen by alleged "strikers."
She exposes the perpetrators of the theft in a series of Instagram posts.
Local police have allegedly done nothing to assist.

It’s the worst nightmare of any car enthusiast–Walking out of your house and not finding your car where you left it. Gone, stolen, and no longer in your safe embrace. It’s a panic: calling friends, family, the police, and taking almost any means necessary to find your missing car. Imagine, then, that your car is found on the internet, posted by the people who stole it, the parts you worked hard to buy stripped from it. You call the police, who don’t offer much help. Then, you find your car. Stripped, sad, and utterly ruined.

That’s what a woman in Los Angeles recently experienced with her modified Nissan 370Z, except it got worse. On April 1st, Keiko, known as Goodiezy on Instagram, got her 370Z stolen. She put out a call to her considerable following to trace her car. In return, she received “over 1,000 messages” about her car, with some containing shared videos of her car being used and abused by a local “striker” group–basically, a group that regularly steals cars for parts and for street takeovers.

Her car was found stripped of its most valuable parts, including carbon-fiber RS1 fenders, Weds Kranze Cerberus II wheels, and most of its body panels, interior, and suspension. Despite that, Keiko still decided to gather all of the evidence she had accumulated, much of it quite damning, and release it to the public. While we reached out to her directly for comment, her story is still well laid out for everyone to see.

It’s a concerning tale, with screenshots of the alleged car kidnappers threatening her to “get it bac (sic) in blood.” Multiple messages containing apparent admissions to the theft, and how they planned to use the parts from Keiko’s car to repair their own cars. Most importantly, she broke down the crew of people who stole the car, who call themselves “3A.”

There seem to be several active members who all participate in regular car thefts, partially named in her post. Since the 370Z was stolen, the group have apparently participated in more thefts, and even posted boastful videos of their alleged crimes. It’s connected to the underground of takeover culture, where large groups of people shut down intersections to do donuts and burnouts.

Many of the cars in a takeover are stolen and are often high-powered rear-drive models from certain automakers. A 370Z is common, as are its close platform-mates the Infiniti G37, G35, and older Nissan 350Z. You’ll also see any number of Dodge Challengers and Chargers, and practically any rear-drive GM car in the mix. 3A, in particular, seems to favor the G37.

Interesting tidbits of how strikers operate are in her posts. For example, the practice of stealing cars and parking them in broad daylight under car covers to make them unidentifiable. There are even hints of tools in use, such as radio-frequency spoofers that mimic car keys.

You might think, where are the police on all of this? From her:

“The cops have had solid evidence on their desk since the first day to find my car and prevent it from getting this far, and they didn’t. If anything happens to me or anyone I know, let it be publicly known [that] they like to threaten women.”

What do you think?

View

Comments

Motor1 has reached out to the Pasadena Police Department and California Highway Patrol for comment.

Motor1’s take: Seeing this side of takeover culture getting laid bare is interesting and should be taken seriously. Hopefully, the local authorities investigate this properly, and Keiko sees the justice she deserves.

Stay informed with our newsletter every weekday

back

Subscribe For more info, read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

GO TO COMMENTS

(

)

Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com

View all comments ( )

Popular

Driven: The Revuelto SV Is All Bull, No BS

Toyota's Next Mid-Engined Coupe Is Going Racing This Weekend

Alfa Romeo Has Had It With Huge Screens

Subaru Teases A New Manual WRX, But Only For Japan