"Interesting" New Trend in Auto-Related Crime...
Saw this story on Xenon headlight theft in yesterday's Boston Globe. Here's a quote:
Not something I'd ever really thought about before...but now it'll make me think twice before leaving my car in a public lot over night. :evil:
With the right tools, thieves can steal headlights off two models in particular, Audi S4s and Nissan Maximas, in under a minute, auto industry specialists said. The headaches for car owners last a lot longer.
Victims typically pay $500 or $1,000 deductibles, lose the use of their car for weeks to the repair shop, and worry that after all the expense they will be vandalized again. "It's a huge problem," said Richard Poillucci, owner of Automotive Specialties Inc. of Hyde Park, who has replaced headlights for Audi owners from the South End, the Fenway, Back Bay, Brookline, and Roslindale in recent months. "Originally we thought it was just a fluke. But I'm seeing on an average week four or five that have been hit."
Headlight thefts were first reported a few years ago in Florida, where thieves were pilfering Porsches of their xenon, or high-intensity, discharge lights, which are three times more powerful than halogen lights, and far more expensive. Halogen light bulbs cost about $14, according to auto repair shops. The thieves installed the xenon lights in other cars, such as older Hondas. The trend was seen last summer in New Jersey and on Long Island in New York, and last fall in Boston.
Victims typically pay $500 or $1,000 deductibles, lose the use of their car for weeks to the repair shop, and worry that after all the expense they will be vandalized again. "It's a huge problem," said Richard Poillucci, owner of Automotive Specialties Inc. of Hyde Park, who has replaced headlights for Audi owners from the South End, the Fenway, Back Bay, Brookline, and Roslindale in recent months. "Originally we thought it was just a fluke. But I'm seeing on an average week four or five that have been hit."
Headlight thefts were first reported a few years ago in Florida, where thieves were pilfering Porsches of their xenon, or high-intensity, discharge lights, which are three times more powerful than halogen lights, and far more expensive. Halogen light bulbs cost about $14, according to auto repair shops. The thieves installed the xenon lights in other cars, such as older Hondas. The trend was seen last summer in New Jersey and on Long Island in New York, and last fall in Boston.
2nd Gear
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Acuras are also targets of theses thieves. I think the main reason is the ability to install theses light assemblies directly into other, less expensive, cars. Many of the Acura lights were going into Honda Accords. Don't know if the Maxima lights fit the Sentra or Altima, but that would explain a lot. That should help to ease the nervous MINI owner. Fairly unique light design. Unless another MINI owner steals them.
6th Gear
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
Been pretty common here in the armpit of the nation...NJ. They've been hitting dealerships, parking decks, malls and office lots, at times in broad daylight. Then again, no one should be surprised with certain cities in NJ having some of the highest auto theft rates anywhere.
2nd Gear
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From: Wherever I lay my hat is my...
It's easy when you see how the headlamps on the Max are designed. Peel back the fender and hood, two screws, and the complete assembly - lens, ballast, arc capsule, everything, comes off. I can't imagine it taking more than a minute per car (both headlamps) for one person that's proficient.
Nissan introduced a thick steel plate which covers the headlamp retaining screws on the Maxima (the '00-'03 generation, not the new '04) to prevent theft, but the body still has to be damaged before thieves realize they're not taking your lights.
The Nissan lamps are extremely popular to steal because they are direct swaps for non-HID Maximas, and there's a big demand for factory HID units. Look for 'em on eBay!
Same thing with the Audi. Three screws and the headlamp's removed. Better yet, it'll directly fit into a the plebeian A4 with tungsten-filament headlamps.
I'm reminded of a Fiat executive who was bragging that a new model being introduced had no external screws to secure the lights to the car, since at the time lamp theft was big business in some parts of Italy.
Nissan introduced a thick steel plate which covers the headlamp retaining screws on the Maxima (the '00-'03 generation, not the new '04) to prevent theft, but the body still has to be damaged before thieves realize they're not taking your lights.
The Nissan lamps are extremely popular to steal because they are direct swaps for non-HID Maximas, and there's a big demand for factory HID units. Look for 'em on eBay!
Same thing with the Audi. Three screws and the headlamp's removed. Better yet, it'll directly fit into a the plebeian A4 with tungsten-filament headlamps.
I'm reminded of a Fiat executive who was bragging that a new model being introduced had no external screws to secure the lights to the car, since at the time lamp theft was big business in some parts of Italy.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Bucks
Yes, this has been going on for over a year now, especially in the NE. I'm a site admin for http://www.acuraworld.com (I used to have a TL) and there are tons of stories with HIDS getting stolen from TLs on our site....sometimes TWICE to the SAME car!!
6th Gear
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From: Bucks
the plot thickens....
-----
NJ sues Nissan over stolen headlights
By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press Writer
March 8, 2004, 12:29 PM EST
NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey authorities sued Nissan North America Inc. on Monday, alleging the automaker failed to warn customers that the super-bright headlights on its Maximas were hot targets for thieves.
The suit, filed in Superior Court in Somerset County, also alleges Nissan profited by having customers purchase anti-theft kits that should have been provided for free. The company's dealerships also profited by performing repair work on cars victimized by thieves, state Attorney General Peter Harvey said.
"We allege the company sold cars with these fancy lights, but kept consumers in the dark about how attractive the headlamps were to thieves," said Reni Erdos, director of the state Division of Consumer Affairs, which filed the suit. "Nissan's actions, or lack thereof, rendered consumers vulnerable to the criminals who targeted their vehicles."
Authorities surveyed police departments in 19 New Jersey municipalities over the past two years and documented 756 thefts or attempted thefts of the moon-blue lights from 2002 or 2003 Maximas. Newark led the state with 277, followed by Bloomfield with 135, Jersey City with 108 and Hillside and Butler with 50 each.
"Nissan knew since at least September 2002 that thieves ere targeting the xenon headlamps in Maximas," Harvey said. "However, it wasn't until more than a year later that Nissan finally began notifying 2002 and 2003 Maxima owners of the risk of theft and the availability of anti-theft devices.
"Meanwhile, numerous victims were hit with huge repair bills. We're seeking restitution for those consumers."
The lights cost about $1,800 to replace _ not counting repair costs for other damage done by thieves, which can bring the total to $4,000 or more.
In a statement, Nissan said it does more than any other manufacturer to help reduce xenon headlight theft, which also plagues other vehicle makes and models.
"While nothing can completely eliminate the thefts of parts from vehicles, we believe the proactive steps taken by Nissan will help deter criminals from stealing headlights from our customers' Maximas," the company's statement read.
Nissan said it began an anti-theft initiative last fall, sending letters to consumers informing them they can bring their Maximas to a dealer where a bracket would be installed, free of charge, to make the headlights more difficult to steal.
But the lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 26, 2002, the company issued a bulletin to its service technicians stating that a replacement connector kit was available for the headlights damaged by theft.
Two months later, the complaint alleges, Nissan sent out another bulletin to service reps informing them that a $175 theft deterrent kit was available "if a customer requests" and "for customer pay only."
It was not until November 2003 that Nissan sent letters to consumers offering "securing devices" for the lights. But Harvey said these kits were different from the anti-theft kit.
"The customer would only have found out about the anti-theft kit if he had asked about it, which obviously he couldn't have," Harvey said.
Nissan spokesman John Schilling said he could not comment beyond the prepared statement, which did not address allegations that the company knew about problems with the lights being stolen long before it warned customers and that the free securing kit it offered provided less protection than the anti-theft kit customers had to purchase.
The lawsuit does not name other automakers whose lights are also frequently stolen by thieves, including Acura.
Sandra Feeley of Morris Township witnessed the theft of headlights from her Maxima on a Manhattan street corner last May.
Feeley, who spoke at Monday's news conference, took the vehicle to a dealership to have the lights replaced and $4,000 worth of damage repaired.
"Everyone there said, `Oh, this is an issue here," she said. "I was like, `Why wasn't I told about this?"'
She said she would not have bought a Nissan Maxima had she known its headlights were so popular with thieves.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press | Article licensing and reprint options
-----
NJ sues Nissan over stolen headlights
By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press Writer
March 8, 2004, 12:29 PM EST
NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey authorities sued Nissan North America Inc. on Monday, alleging the automaker failed to warn customers that the super-bright headlights on its Maximas were hot targets for thieves.
The suit, filed in Superior Court in Somerset County, also alleges Nissan profited by having customers purchase anti-theft kits that should have been provided for free. The company's dealerships also profited by performing repair work on cars victimized by thieves, state Attorney General Peter Harvey said.
"We allege the company sold cars with these fancy lights, but kept consumers in the dark about how attractive the headlamps were to thieves," said Reni Erdos, director of the state Division of Consumer Affairs, which filed the suit. "Nissan's actions, or lack thereof, rendered consumers vulnerable to the criminals who targeted their vehicles."
Authorities surveyed police departments in 19 New Jersey municipalities over the past two years and documented 756 thefts or attempted thefts of the moon-blue lights from 2002 or 2003 Maximas. Newark led the state with 277, followed by Bloomfield with 135, Jersey City with 108 and Hillside and Butler with 50 each.
"Nissan knew since at least September 2002 that thieves ere targeting the xenon headlamps in Maximas," Harvey said. "However, it wasn't until more than a year later that Nissan finally began notifying 2002 and 2003 Maxima owners of the risk of theft and the availability of anti-theft devices.
"Meanwhile, numerous victims were hit with huge repair bills. We're seeking restitution for those consumers."
The lights cost about $1,800 to replace _ not counting repair costs for other damage done by thieves, which can bring the total to $4,000 or more.
In a statement, Nissan said it does more than any other manufacturer to help reduce xenon headlight theft, which also plagues other vehicle makes and models.
"While nothing can completely eliminate the thefts of parts from vehicles, we believe the proactive steps taken by Nissan will help deter criminals from stealing headlights from our customers' Maximas," the company's statement read.
Nissan said it began an anti-theft initiative last fall, sending letters to consumers informing them they can bring their Maximas to a dealer where a bracket would be installed, free of charge, to make the headlights more difficult to steal.
But the lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 26, 2002, the company issued a bulletin to its service technicians stating that a replacement connector kit was available for the headlights damaged by theft.
Two months later, the complaint alleges, Nissan sent out another bulletin to service reps informing them that a $175 theft deterrent kit was available "if a customer requests" and "for customer pay only."
It was not until November 2003 that Nissan sent letters to consumers offering "securing devices" for the lights. But Harvey said these kits were different from the anti-theft kit.
"The customer would only have found out about the anti-theft kit if he had asked about it, which obviously he couldn't have," Harvey said.
Nissan spokesman John Schilling said he could not comment beyond the prepared statement, which did not address allegations that the company knew about problems with the lights being stolen long before it warned customers and that the free securing kit it offered provided less protection than the anti-theft kit customers had to purchase.
The lawsuit does not name other automakers whose lights are also frequently stolen by thieves, including Acura.
Sandra Feeley of Morris Township witnessed the theft of headlights from her Maxima on a Manhattan street corner last May.
Feeley, who spoke at Monday's news conference, took the vehicle to a dealership to have the lights replaced and $4,000 worth of damage repaired.
"Everyone there said, `Oh, this is an issue here," she said. "I was like, `Why wasn't I told about this?"'
She said she would not have bought a Nissan Maxima had she known its headlights were so popular with thieves.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press | Article licensing and reprint options
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>>
>>Not something I'd ever really thought about before...but now it'll make me think twice before leaving my car in a public lot over night. :evil:
>>
Spent some of my youth and then some of my adult life in Mexico City......
during my youth you didn't dare leave the WINDSHIELD WIPERS on the car if you parked in the street. You actually went through the hassle of taking them off and putting them in the glove compartment (It was really fun when rain suddenly appeared).
Life has gotten better, fast forward to the late nineties, no one steals the wipers but beware if your mirrors and fancy headlights are not nailed on, they will be gone in 1.2 seconds. The good part is that the little guy down the street "can get them and install them for you" for a very reasonable price!!! Further, a cottage industry has developed in "nailing" you accessories to your car!!!
Probably Bush's fault, I'd say.......
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