Honda Thefts Lead To Warning By Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Deputy

Posted by: Perry Smith in Santa Clarita News October 7, 2013 - 10:58 am 0 262 Views

A rash of car thefts over the weekend are being investigated by Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives.

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“Three late 1990s model Honda Civics were stolen from the Jakes Way area of Canyon Country,” said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“One was taken from the 27900 of Solemint Road; one was on the 17700 block of Wren and the other one was on the 18000 of Annes Circle,” Dubin said.

The thefts were reported in the morning when the owners noticed their vehicles missing, he said.

“We’re investigating whether or not there are more vehicles stolen, he said, noting that the vehicles are popular among car thieves.

Thieves are stealing 1990 through 1999 model year Honda and Toyota vehicles more than any other, according to authorities.

During a three-month stretch from September to November of last year, 118 vehicles were reported stolen, and 31 percent of them were Hondas.

Often it’s because the thief can quickly sell parts from the car and make more money than the car itself may be worth.

In other instances, the stolen vehicles are used as transportation from one location to the next or in the commission of another crime, and then abandoned.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Crime Prevention Unit deputies offered several tips regarding vehicle-theft prevention:

Always lock your doors, remove your keys from the ignition, close your windows, and park your vehicle in a well-lit area.

A car thief can bypass your ignition by hot-wiring the vehicle. Think about having an ignition kill switch, fuel disabler, or fuse cut-off installed on your vehicle by a licensed mechanic.

Adding a visible or audible anti-theft device to your vehicle, such as an alarm, steering wheel lock or theft deterrent decals can also help.

The Santa Clarita Valley is not alone. Vehicle theft is among the nation’s most costly property crimes. Many law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County are facing vehicle theft related challenges.

If you have any information relating to vehicle theft or other crimes in the Santa Clarita Valley and wish to remain anonymous, call LA Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by clicking here.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.