Thefts of small pickup trucks are surging in Japan, especially in the 660cc class for mini trucks, which are rapidly gaining popularity overseas.

Depending on the model, around 100 mini trucks are stolen each year.

Another reason for the increase lies in the simple design of mini trucks, which makes them relatively easy to reassemble after being taken apart for export, experts say.

A mini truck stolen from a home renovation firm in Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo late last year was found a couple of months later in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, some 150 kilometers away.

For owner Kenko Kawata, it was a lucky break as so many stolen mini trucks end up overseas. 

Kawata, 39, was dumbfounded to find the vehicle missing from the company premises when he turned up for work one day in late November 2023.

He operates his business in Ina, southern Saitama Prefecture. Kawata purchased the vehicle, then new, three years earlier for 1.2 million yen ($8,100).

He knew that Toyota Motor Corp.’s Land Cruiser SUV and HiAce minivan models are favorites of car thieves.

“But I was shocked that even a light-weight truck could fall prey, too,” he recalled.

The windows of two minivans parked next to the light pickup were smashed and mechanical tools, including impact drivers used by mechanics to loosen large screws, had also been swiped, along with a toilet bowl, a water heater and other items waiting to be delivered to a customer.

Kawata said the thefts left him out of pocket to the tune of 2 million yen at a bare minimum.

“I couldn’t work for several days because I had to explain the situation to my customers and talk to the police.”

A security camera captured three individuals nosing around the work site around 2 a.m., several hours before the thefts were noticed.

One person appeared to be acting as a lookout, while the other two rummaged through the minivans and loaded stolen items into the mini truck.

BAD PAINT JOB

The truck was found in Hitachi, northern Ibaraki Prefecture, a two-hour drive from Kawata’s company, in late January.

The vehicle, originally white, had been spray-painted black and its license plates had been replaced with ones bearing different numbers and letters.

“The paint job was sloppy,” Kawata continued. “The vehicle identification number on the side of the driver’s seat was scraped off, so the truck had to be scrapped.”

Although Kawata got his vehicle back, his auto insurance only coughed up around 1 million yen. He was still out of pocket for the other stolen items.

Although luxury cars are the usual target of auto thieves, light trucks are often selected as well, as they are easy pickings.

Many companies own used ones, and Kawata’s enterprise has at least 10.

“The relatively new ones are all insured, but it’s difficult to have of all them insured,” he said.

OVERSEAS BOOM

A National Police Agency nationwide tally of vehicles stolen between January and June this year showed high-end models such as Toyota’s Land Cruiser and Lexus LX were particularly popular among auto thieves.

But mini trucks, commonly known as keitora, are also among the most stolen vehicles, including Daihatsu Motor Co.’s Hijet (55 units, including the minivan edition) and Suzuki Motor Corp.’s Carry (44).

Around 100 units of each model were also stolen in 2022 and 2023.

Gangs that specialize in auto theft typically drive stolen vehicles to salvage yards that turn a blind eye to illicit goings-on, dismantle them as quickly as possible and ship them out of the country in container ships and reassemble them for sale elsewhere, according to auto journalist Kumiko Kato.

Light trucks attract car thieves because they can be reassembled relatively effortlessly after being taken apart due to their simple design and lack of sophisticated electronics.

Another reason the light-weight vehicles are held in such high regard lies in the fact that they evolved as a vehicle class unique to Japan. It wasn’t long before mini trucks started gaining attention in the United States and Europe.

Light trucks are also in high demand in India, where parts are widely available because of Suzuki, which manufactures the Carry and has a market share of more than 40 percent in the country, and Australia, which significantly relaxed its import restrictions on used cars in 2017.

The weak yen also spurred the boom.

“They may be small, but they are durable and powerful, and popular for their large pickup beds,” Kato said.

PROFITABLE UNDERTAKING

The automotive journalist said mini trucks used for farm work are particularly popular among overseas customers.

Kato explained that Japanese used cars enjoy a reputation for reliability due to the country’s rigorous vehicle inspection system.

Mini trucks used by farmers tend to have low mileage on the clock because they are mostly driven back and forth between the owner’s home and fields.

Those sold for between 100,000 yen and 200,000 yen in Japan “can fetch at least 1 million yen in the United States,” Kato said.

She said the United States has a 25-year rule, which exempts vehicles at least a quarter century old from its strict import ban.

Kato cautioned owners of mini trucks to take thorough anti-theft measures, noting that the vehicles have no elaborate security devices and are often left unlocked.

(This story was written by Jun Sugie and Daichi Itakura.)