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O.K., the answer seems obvious. But it may not be. Here's a look at the reasons besides simply to resell it or for parts.

About half of stolen vehicles are taken to commit another crime or as destination theft. That's defined as stealing a car to drive it, often recklessly, for enjoyment. Thieves usually leave it abandoned and vandalized.

Some theft rings steal vehicles to order. A specific make and model of vehicle is scouted and stolen, and often resold at an incredibly low price. The new owner is typically in for a rude surprise, as the ring will often steal the vehicle back and resell it to someone else, or the vehicle will be seized by police.

"Chop shops" strip vehicles and sell off components, often to legitimate businesses that are unaware the parts are stolen. This is a big business that accounts for millions of dollars a year in profits for criminals.

Theft rings under the control of organized crime use automobile theft to finance other criminal activities, including drug-trafficking, money-laundering, prostitution and terrorism.

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