Police believe thieves are targeting car dealerships, stealing vehicles, and sending them overseas.
    
So far the suspects have hit at least three Toyota dealers in Middle Tennessee.

Police believe thieves are going after expensive vehicles and shipping them to countries like Nigeria, where they are in high demand.
     
It's a clever scheme centered around keyless remotes.           
     
At nearly $80,000 the Land Cruiser is the top of the line at Toyota of Murfreesboro.
 
So it's no wonder why thieves would want it.

Police say security video shows a man pretending to be interested in a new car.
   
Trailing him are a man and a young woman, who are believed to be accomplices.

Their mission is to gain access to the Land Cruiser's key.

Police say the thieves are stealing vehicles by disabling the keys.  They distract the salesman, then remove a computer chip from the key, place it in the car, then come back later and take the vehicle.

Once the proximity chip is inside, it's a just a matter of pressing the start button.

The Land Cruiser was driven off the lot after the dealership closed.

"We've tightened up on security, some other measures," says Toyota Sales Manger Josh Black.

Managers realize the vehicle may never be found.
   
The thieves remove the battery to prevent GPS tracking.
  
Police believe the SUV was shipped to the U.S.border and then transported to Africa.

"The value of an overseas sale of this type of car could easily be in the $200,000 range, where here in the U.S. it's about an $80,000 car, so double or triple what the car would bring in the U.S.," says Kyle Evans with the Murfreesboro Police Department.

What's more, the suspects aren't stopping.
   
They've stolen a Sequoia from the Toyota dealer in Cool Springs, and attempted to take another Land Cruiser from Beaman Toyota in Nashville.
  
A theft ring with international ties is now operating in Middle Tennessee.

"We're hoping we catch them. Hopefully we'll catch them," says Josh Black.

These thefts began about two weeks ago. The most recent incident happened this past weekend.
    
Dealers around the Mid-State have been warned to be on the lookout for these thieves.

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