[XR Martin]

I work in the industry and this is what I deal with everyday.
A lot are hired by the girlfriends of the druggie dealer, and the car is passed around. (Just like her I imagine)
Key is to reposses as soon as you think it's not coming back, and having very good recovery agents.
It's rare we have any go missing for too long.
We have no issues going to court, some police are often useless, are not interested and say it's a 'civil matter' (which is bs, its theft by deception) What they don't seem to realise or care about is the offender is usually involved in many other criminal activities at the same time.

But we do have a good rapport with various police across NSW and VIC which helps.

We recently had a car rented from Wangaratta and was in Airlie Beach, but the renter claimed was in Melbourne and was returning that day. Obviously it was BS and I organised it's repossession that day. Left her stranded 2000km from home.

Technically VIC police won't report a hire car as stolen for 28 days.
Never written off a trashed vehicle, they have always been savable.