Automotive News : Thieves Targeting Third-Row SUV Seats

Automotive News : Thieves Targeting Third-Row SUV Seats

Third-row seats in SUVs are a hot commodity for growing families, and thieves are catching on to their popularity as well. Local law enforcement agencies are now devising ways to get the best of burglars looking to boost the heavy, expensive optional seats like those found in the Chevrolet Tahoe. The Tahoe's removable rear 50/50-split bench does not fold into the floor like the rear seat in the Toyota Highlander, but instead needs to be removed from the SUV for storage. These seats are not marked with serial numbers, and if stolen, it's impossible to track them back to the original vehicle.

"Seat theft has become a real problem over the last several months," said Officer David Stennick of the Long Beach, California police department. "Thieves aren't just stealing seats stored in private garages. They're breaking into parked SUVs and grabbing third-row seats in the middle of the day." According to investigators, the seats are very easy to reinstall in any similar SUV. The thief just has to tighten two bolts. The near-universal nature of the GM seats makes them a prime target. As a result, GM seats are showing up for sale at swap meets and other cash-exchange businesses.

Although the removable cloth third-row seat in a 2007 Tahoe LS is only a $460 factory option, the retail price for replacing the seat can be in the thousands of dollars. The fold-down seat in the 2007 Highlander adds $850 to the SUV's base MSRP.

Following a rash of thefts in local neighborhoods, the Long Beach Police Department is now offering to engrave vehicle identification numbers under rear seats for free. Officers are marking the seats in several areas to prevent thieves from merely scratching off the ID number.