NEW YORK, NY July 01, 2010 —New York prosecutors say they've broken up a "steal to order" car theft ring that took car requests from as far away as Senegal -- and filled them from the streets and parking lots of the Tri-State area.

Prosecutors say the ring was based out of the Bronx, and stole more than 450 cars. Seventeen people have been arrested, including exporters, expert car thieves, and employees at two car dealerships in Greenwich, Conn., and Fairlawn, NJ.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the ring was a "sophisticated" operation. "It was sophisticated in that they employed as part of the ring Toyota dealership employees who could actually facilitate the making of the key for the vehicle."

One dealership had no comment, and the owner of the other said he was surprised, because the employee under arrest was a top mechanic.