> Car radios these days are an integral part Typically a single car is sold with a few different models of stereos, not only for different trim levels but also

> Car radios these days are an integral part Typically a single car is sold with a few different models of stereos, not only for different trim levels but also different regions, e.g. SiriusFM is common in the US but doesn't exist in Europe, and the navigation is usually region specific (you can't just swap a DVD like you could 15 years ago). > what on earth are you going to do with that? In my country salvaged cars are imported from Western Europe and the US, fixed up and resold here. A car with a European radio/infotainment/nav system is going to sell for a lot more than a car with a (pretty useless for here) USA system. There's also people who need a replacement for whatever reason (it broke, spilled coffee on it, dog scratched it up, etc) and want something cheaper than €5000 for a replacement at a dealership. As I hinted at, the radio software is locked to the original ECU so you can't just swap them directly, but if you know what you are doing (or more likely know someone with access to manufacturers software) it's possible. This wasn't just a junkie stealing a radio they can sell for $20 to get a hit, it's an organised crime. I'd be very surprised if this doesn't happen in the USA too. I would have thought it would be easier to steal the whole car and take it to a chop shop than just stealing parts though.