Many talk shows aired video footage last Friday taken of thieves stealing the third row out of the back of an SUV. Interestingly, they weren’t trying to steal the car, but these offenders have figured out that in seconds they can take out removable third rows and re-sell them on online, at swap meets, or to local car repair shops for hundreds of dollars. Currently, the third row seats do not have any serial numbers or markings to prove who the owner is, so they can easily be resold.
It’s just unbelievable to watch how easy it looks. According to the video footage, the way the thieves are taking them is out is that one person walks up to the car and scopes it out. Then he waves his partner over who comes prepared with a special tool that unlocks the glass on the back door without setting the alarm off. Once the glass is open, a third thief climbs inside and opens the door. He then unlocks the seat, grabs it and they all take off.
Officer David Stennick of the Long Beach, California police department said that third-row seat theft has become an increasing problem over the last several months. “Thieves aren't just stealing third-row seats stored in private garages. They're breaking into parked SUVs and grabbing third-row seats in the middle of the day." SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Chevy Tahoe have been primary targets.
Police in a wealthy Dallas enclave have also reported a rash of SUV break-ins since last April in which thieves are stealing third-row seats. More than 50 third row seats have been stolen during this time. Both police departments suggest to lock the seats down by using additional cables or bungees to help slow down the process as it generally costs about $1,000 to have them replaced at the dealer.
So while the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that in 2011 vehicle thefts were down by 3.3%, thieves have just found another item within the car to make quick money on. Now that police officials are more closely watching this new trend, offenders will have a harder time getting away with it. Once indicted, these criminals will be court ordered to take “anti-stealing classes” along with fines, jail time and community service. The purpose of imposing these theft classes is to teach criminals about what drives them to steal, why they find it difficult to stop, and most importantly how to stop the cycle of unlawfulness. The hope is that this requirement teaches thieves the skills necessary to change their life around so they don’t just end up in jail again.
For offenders who need to take a theft class, ask your judge or court system if you can fulfill the requirement by taking an online theft diversion class from your personal computer. Online classes are highly beneficial because you can take them 24/7 from any web-based computer, so the client does not need to meet any pre-determined class schedule. This means no more missed work or school time is necessary. Once the client passes the multiple-choice final exam with a 70% or better, a certificate of completion is issued. The client simply presents this paperwork to the courthouse to prove he took the class and the requirement is accomplished. Taking a theft class has become a mandatory requirement in many jurisdictions across the country, and taking them from the comfort of your own home is definitely the most convenient and least expensive way to go.
