Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says thieves took orders for specific cars, then looked for them on city streets.
Authorities say 14 people were arrested and are now facing charges.
The preferred vehicles - Lexus, Acura and Toyota SUV, were then stolen and shipped to either Africa or the Chicago area.
Kelly says the ring members made fake titles, including hiring a worker at a Toyota dealership in Orlando to run the serial numbers and get the cars' key codes.
Once shipped overseas, there was big money to be made. The stolen cars had a value of $4 million.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said once an order was placed, the thieves would "stalk" the drivers until there was an opportune time to steal the cars.
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