Criminals often do not bid for the entire car, instead of stealing the entire car, they prefer to obtain only a few valuable parts in seconds, which are sought after on the black market.
Catalytic converters are unfortunately stolen every day, but they also easily get rid of the rims from cars that are parked in the open. Sensors are still cut out, but the real fat bite is now the installation of complicated and expensive LED headlights.
In addition, thieves are already receiving training online, videos show them which type is the one from which the valuable headlight can be quickly and easily ripped off. It is surprising, but thanks to the manufacturers’ economical fastening, the lights of some types can be pulled out practically by hand, with little effort. Back in 2023, we reported on an incident in Brazil where it appeared that it took a thief less than half a minute to remove both headlights of a Porsche Panamera.
The problem itself is not new for the type, as the easy removal of the headlights is a problem for all models manufactured up to 2018, but from the 2019 model year, the work of thieves will be made more difficult at Porsche with additional screws.
And this case is only the tip of the iceberg, thieves are already attacking cheaper types, the number of crimes is increasing, and the authorities worldwide are powerless in relation to these crimes. Now Mexico City is in the news: criminals mainly target the latest models from Volkswagen, Seat and Audi, often using sheer force or tools to pry apart bumpers, fenders and hoods to get at the front and rear lights.
The stolen parts are later sold on social networking sites, mainly Facebook Marketplace. The prices are often high, and sometimes stolen parts are sold in a damaged condition, but they quickly find owners, as they are much cheaper than new parts available in official dealerships.
Since there is no official solution, the owners of cars parked on the street are experimenting with other unique antidotes. In October, an active user on social media posted his home-made thief-chasing cage. He practically welded an armor to prevent theft, similar protective equipment to the ones used on catalytic converters. This would take too much time to remove, and it would also make a lot of noise, so presumably thieves are looking for easier prey.
But this is not the only method: some people fix blades under the bumper, where thieves reach, or add extra fixings to the lights with steel wires.
In addition, LED floodlights are not necessarily only sold because of their value, but sometimes they are also used for growing marijuana, among other things, because they are more economical than other high-powered lights used for similar purposes.
Source: www.vezess.hu
