WorldCRIME WATCH
Mexican cartels stealing thousands of US rental cars
Cartels exploit legal loopholes and rental companies' slow reporting to acquire vehicles for drug trafficking and armed operations; the paperwork moves slower than the theft.
On air: Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger on BBN Crime WatchPublished
Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWatch it as it aired: Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Crime Watch at 2:57 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Newsmax's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by Newsmax: “Mexican Cartels Stealing Thousands of US Rental Cars”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 2:57 PM ET on BBN Crime Watch, by Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger.
- Topics: US.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMexican drug cartels are allegedly stealing thousands of rental cars and trucks in the United States and driving them across the southern border.
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterIT IS A MIDNIGHT HEIST, HANK!
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterAllegedly they are using legal loopholes and slow reporting procedures, and the paperwork is losing a race to a minivan!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA minivan.
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterThe vehicles are allegedly used for drug trafficking and armed confrontations, and the rental companies are said to have weak security!
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterI am eating a gas station hot dog and I have never been this scared!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the cars leave the lot faster than the report does.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn my experience, the report is the only thing at a rental counter that takes an hour.
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterThe system is the getaway driver!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSomewhere a clerk is offering the thieves the premium insurance, and allegedly they are declining it.
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Photo: United States Department of State · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Davevzla · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Spamguy at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: U. S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Pierre Blaché from Paris, France · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 12, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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