Channel 4’s flagship investigative series, Dispatches, turns its attention to a crime wave hitting streets across the country. In Britain’s Car Theft Gangs Exposed, the program reports that 168 cars are stolen every day, a statistic that has fueled a growing black market and left countless people without their vehicles. The episode sets out to document the mechanics of this widespread criminal enterprise.
Reporter Matt Shea heads the investigation, going undercover to meet with both the criminals profiting from the thefts and the whistleblowers trying to sound the alarm. The hour-long report follows the trail of stolen vehicles, tracking their movements to find out where they end up and who is responsible for their disappearance. It’s a hands-on approach to journalism that moves beyond statistics to confront the individuals at the center of the epidemic.
Known for its in-depth and often confrontational reporting on British social and political issues, Dispatches applies its established formula to a problem that affects a huge portion of the population. This isn’t just about the numbers; the program aims to show the operational side of these gangs, from the initial theft to the final sale, providing a clear picture of a modern criminal operation.
Dispatches airs Thursday, June 19, at 8:00 PM on Channel 4.
