When will this ever stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jan 2001
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When will this ever stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tell ya, who ever comes up with a aparatus to prevent headlight theft, could make tons of money! Man, if I ever catch a bastard trying to take my lights.........read this horrible story....
Xenon headlamp removals on rise
Monday, December 31, 2001
By NICOLE GAUDIANO
It was a confusing moment on the road for Benjamin Benson -- and the cop.
Benson thought his xenon headlights were on while the Englewood Cliffs police officer at the red light insisted otherwise, pulling him over.
They were both wrong -- someone else had Benson's high-dollar headlights, making him a victim in a growing theft trend.
"We both got out of our cars and essentially our mouths dropped," said Benson, an attorney in Englewood Cliffs. "I was astounded. I was looking at the two gaping holes where my headlights used to be. There were wires hanging out.
"It was terrible."
High-intensity-discharge headlights, valued by motorists for their heightened illumination capacity, are typically found only on late-model import cars such as Benson's Acura.
They've also become a hot-ticket item for criminals, police say. Most recognized for their glaring blue hue, these expensive parts have lured thieves who have been snatching them at an increasing rate.
"It's happening all over the country," said Rockaway Township police Capt. Walter Kimble, a member of the vehicle-theft committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"It's a fairly new phenomenon. People are dumbfounded when they come out and find their headlights are gone," he said.
Several towns with malls, large office buildings, or apartment buildings in Bergen, Passaic, and Morris counties have reported such thefts in the past few months.
Acura headlights -- like those on Benson's 1999 3.2TL -- appear to be a favorite in this area, along with those on Audis and BMWs. They can cost more than $2,000 to replace.
"There becomes a market for these used parts," said police Capt. Steve Hervey in Fort Lee, where six cars have been hit since August. "A fence will buy them from the bad guy and sell them under the guise of legitimacy to a body shop."
The thefts are property crimes, with incarceration an unlikely sentence for a first-time offender, Hervey said. Police are finding arrests tough to make, unless someone stumbles across a theft in progress.
That's what happened Dec. 8 in Hackensack, when police caught two alleged thieves after a woman reported they were stealing the headlights from her 2001 Acura.
Police found the pair with two sets of headlights, an electric screwdriver, and Nextel phones with two-way radios for communicating with each other, said Hackensack police Capt. Frank Lomia.
Though the arrest led to charges in Hackensack and Maywood, police believe there are more thieves at work in the widespread thefts.
"They may be part of a larger ring of people doing this," Lomia said.
Wayne police have taken reports on almost 50 such thefts since last summer, including many at the Willowbrook Mall, said Lt. John Reardon. The Clifton Commons and public lots along Route 3 in Clifton have also been targeted, police said.
Keith Bogorowski, towing manager for Venusti Auto Body in Mahwah, said his shop replaced headlights stolen from four Acuras at the dealership in Ramsey three months ago.
"They were all 3.2s," he said, adding that the repair is expensive both for the cost of the replacement headlights and to repair the damage usually done by the thieves. "The bumper's pulled out and the grille is usually broken and the casing around the lighting is usually cracked."
Art Garner, a spokesman for the American Honda Motor Co., which manufactures Acuras, said his company is beginning to study possible ways to make the lights harder to steal.
The trend is also drawing increased scrutiny in law enforcement circles. "Obviously, we're going to have to start concentrating on it more and more," said Paramus police Detective Sgt. Kevin Smith. Police in Paramus have seen five such thefts in the past two weeks.
In the meantime, what can drivers do to safeguard their vehicles? Police say there is little advice they can give, other than to be careful where you park.
If Benson had known his headlights were a target, he would have driven his wife's Saturn to work, which is where they were stolen, he said.
The theft has been a major inconvenience, especially since he can't drive the car at night, he said.
Benson had to borrow his father's car, which he was still using Friday. He made a claim with his insurance company; they inspected it a week later and said it would take five to seven business days to process the claim and give him an estimate, he said. The claim could be anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000.
"It's not just the headlights missing," he said. "They also had to bend the metal to get them out."
Still, he considers himself lucky that the officer stopped him on Sylvan Avenue.
"God forbid I went on the Palisades [Interstate Parkway], where there were no lights whatsoever," he said.
---
The complete article can be found here - http://www.bergen.com/news/highbeam200112314.htm
Xenon headlamp removals on rise
Monday, December 31, 2001
By NICOLE GAUDIANO
It was a confusing moment on the road for Benjamin Benson -- and the cop.
Benson thought his xenon headlights were on while the Englewood Cliffs police officer at the red light insisted otherwise, pulling him over.
They were both wrong -- someone else had Benson's high-dollar headlights, making him a victim in a growing theft trend.
"We both got out of our cars and essentially our mouths dropped," said Benson, an attorney in Englewood Cliffs. "I was astounded. I was looking at the two gaping holes where my headlights used to be. There were wires hanging out.
"It was terrible."
High-intensity-discharge headlights, valued by motorists for their heightened illumination capacity, are typically found only on late-model import cars such as Benson's Acura.
They've also become a hot-ticket item for criminals, police say. Most recognized for their glaring blue hue, these expensive parts have lured thieves who have been snatching them at an increasing rate.
"It's happening all over the country," said Rockaway Township police Capt. Walter Kimble, a member of the vehicle-theft committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"It's a fairly new phenomenon. People are dumbfounded when they come out and find their headlights are gone," he said.
Several towns with malls, large office buildings, or apartment buildings in Bergen, Passaic, and Morris counties have reported such thefts in the past few months.
Acura headlights -- like those on Benson's 1999 3.2TL -- appear to be a favorite in this area, along with those on Audis and BMWs. They can cost more than $2,000 to replace.
"There becomes a market for these used parts," said police Capt. Steve Hervey in Fort Lee, where six cars have been hit since August. "A fence will buy them from the bad guy and sell them under the guise of legitimacy to a body shop."
The thefts are property crimes, with incarceration an unlikely sentence for a first-time offender, Hervey said. Police are finding arrests tough to make, unless someone stumbles across a theft in progress.
That's what happened Dec. 8 in Hackensack, when police caught two alleged thieves after a woman reported they were stealing the headlights from her 2001 Acura.
Police found the pair with two sets of headlights, an electric screwdriver, and Nextel phones with two-way radios for communicating with each other, said Hackensack police Capt. Frank Lomia.
Though the arrest led to charges in Hackensack and Maywood, police believe there are more thieves at work in the widespread thefts.
"They may be part of a larger ring of people doing this," Lomia said.
Wayne police have taken reports on almost 50 such thefts since last summer, including many at the Willowbrook Mall, said Lt. John Reardon. The Clifton Commons and public lots along Route 3 in Clifton have also been targeted, police said.
Keith Bogorowski, towing manager for Venusti Auto Body in Mahwah, said his shop replaced headlights stolen from four Acuras at the dealership in Ramsey three months ago.
"They were all 3.2s," he said, adding that the repair is expensive both for the cost of the replacement headlights and to repair the damage usually done by the thieves. "The bumper's pulled out and the grille is usually broken and the casing around the lighting is usually cracked."
Art Garner, a spokesman for the American Honda Motor Co., which manufactures Acuras, said his company is beginning to study possible ways to make the lights harder to steal.
The trend is also drawing increased scrutiny in law enforcement circles. "Obviously, we're going to have to start concentrating on it more and more," said Paramus police Detective Sgt. Kevin Smith. Police in Paramus have seen five such thefts in the past two weeks.
In the meantime, what can drivers do to safeguard their vehicles? Police say there is little advice they can give, other than to be careful where you park.
If Benson had known his headlights were a target, he would have driven his wife's Saturn to work, which is where they were stolen, he said.
The theft has been a major inconvenience, especially since he can't drive the car at night, he said.
Benson had to borrow his father's car, which he was still using Friday. He made a claim with his insurance company; they inspected it a week later and said it would take five to seven business days to process the claim and give him an estimate, he said. The claim could be anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000.
"It's not just the headlights missing," he said. "They also had to bend the metal to get them out."
Still, he considers himself lucky that the officer stopped him on Sylvan Avenue.
"God forbid I went on the Palisades [Interstate Parkway], where there were no lights whatsoever," he said.
---
The complete article can be found here - http://www.bergen.com/news/highbeam200112314.htm
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 208
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Originally posted by mawaru
WoW!!!! Most of those places are right in my backyard!!! I hope they catch these f***ing bastards!!!
WoW!!!! Most of those places are right in my backyard!!! I hope they catch these f***ing bastards!!!
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jan 2001
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Right in your backyard huh????
Originally posted by mawaru
WoW!!!! Most of those places are right in my backyard!!! I hope they catch these f***ing bastards!!!
WoW!!!! Most of those places are right in my backyard!!! I hope they catch these f***ing bastards!!!
Trending Topics
Senior Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 20,067
Likes: 4,698
From: Cleveland area, OH
Here's hoping the trend doesn't come to Cleveland soon! Luckily, thieves here are more interested in stealing $500 Olds Cutlasses for their interchangable headlights (and other parts) than Acuras. Even so, It's time for me to consider shock sensors in the headlights, an idea that was suggested the last time this topic came up.
4dr & I like it that way
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
how did the guy not realize that his lights werent there? 
when he turned the light switch and nothing happened you would think he would have notcied that before driving off onto the freeway...
when he turned the light switch and nothing happened you would think he would have notcied that before driving off onto the freeway...
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS, USA
I've been thinking long and hard about this headlight theft problem and haven't been able to find a good solution.
Alarms do not work--people ignore them and thieves know it. The trick is to make it so inconvenient or slow for the thieves to steal the lights that they will move on to someone else's car. It may sound really mean but that's the only effective way of discouraging theft.
There needs to be a way to physically make it difficult for the thieves to steal the lights, and this method should be easily visible to a would-be thief. For example, if you enclose your headlight in a welded steel casing internally to prevent removal, the thief should be able to see some of the casing from the outside to know that this car is not worth his trouble.
I've thought of several things we can do, including welding a skeleton steel frame around the lights, supergluing the lights to each other using steel cables wound around the chassis, welding steel plates under the light so that removing the bumper will not expose the housing, etc... anyone want to brainstorm a solution with me?
Alarms do not work--people ignore them and thieves know it. The trick is to make it so inconvenient or slow for the thieves to steal the lights that they will move on to someone else's car. It may sound really mean but that's the only effective way of discouraging theft.
There needs to be a way to physically make it difficult for the thieves to steal the lights, and this method should be easily visible to a would-be thief. For example, if you enclose your headlight in a welded steel casing internally to prevent removal, the thief should be able to see some of the casing from the outside to know that this car is not worth his trouble.
I've thought of several things we can do, including welding a skeleton steel frame around the lights, supergluing the lights to each other using steel cables wound around the chassis, welding steel plates under the light so that removing the bumper will not expose the housing, etc... anyone want to brainstorm a solution with me?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: CA
question are our headlights held in place my screws alone? it if its you can put superglues in the screw hole (thst is the hole where the screw driver is inserted). that would stop the theft but you would have a hella'ofa hard time removing it yourself. Might not be full proof but if i was a robber and seen that i'd leav it alone and go to the next car.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Originally posted by 2k2 TLS
question are our headlights held in place my screws alone? it if its you can put superglues in the screw hole (thst is the hole where the screw driver is inserted). that would stop the theft but you would have a hella'ofa hard time removing it yourself. Might not be full proof but if i was a robber and seen that i'd leav it alone and go to the next car.
question are our headlights held in place my screws alone? it if its you can put superglues in the screw hole (thst is the hole where the screw driver is inserted). that would stop the theft but you would have a hella'ofa hard time removing it yourself. Might not be full proof but if i was a robber and seen that i'd leav it alone and go to the next car.
Problem is, by the time the thieves see the screws they would have ripped your fascia apart. And when they see that you've made them waste their time on your lights they'd probably inflict more damage on your car in frustration!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: CA
Originally posted by daverman
.
Problem is, by the time the thieves see the screws they would have ripped your fascia apart. And when they see that you've made them waste their time on your lights they'd probably inflict more damage on your car in frustration!
.
Problem is, by the time the thieves see the screws they would have ripped your fascia apart. And when they see that you've made them waste their time on your lights they'd probably inflict more damage on your car in frustration!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 431
Likes: 3
From: Fed Way, WA
Originally posted by daverman
.
There needs to be a way to physically make it difficult for the thieves to steal the lights, and this method should be easily visible to a would-be thief... anyone want to brainstorm a solution with me?
.
There needs to be a way to physically make it difficult for the thieves to steal the lights, and this method should be easily visible to a would-be thief... anyone want to brainstorm a solution with me?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Mstyle, I'm with you. I'll join in the Sting. Let's catch these f***ers and kick the living Sh*t out of them. Then let's take them to Bear Mountain and leave them in the deep woods covered in tar, feathers, and crushed up light bulbs. Ok, now everyone on the board thinks I'm sick and twisted, but I bet we can get like 15 guys from the board together. Only question, whose TL is the bait.
Buckle Up
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Fl
Originally posted by neuronbob
neuronbob
2002 Nighthawk Black Pearl TL-Premium
K & N drop-in air filter
2001 Honda Accord EX ((V4) (wife's ride)
Last edited by neuronbob on 12-31-2001 at 04:37 PM
neuronbob
2002 Nighthawk Black Pearl TL-Premium
K & N drop-in air filter
2001 Honda Accord EX ((V4) (wife's ride)
Last edited by neuronbob on 12-31-2001 at 04:37 PM
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island / Brooklyn
Sting? I'm in....I'll bring the bats and the "gats". If I would ever catch someone doing something to my car....even if someone tries to key it I will break their face into pieces. No mercy to these bastards even if its the first time.
As far as daverman's thought in helping to establish a security system and to help the police locate the thieves. Instal LoJack (spelling?) into each light. I know it might be expensive but if enough people want it the price should go down. That way the cops can follow the lights and take down the thieves when they wouldn't expect it.
As far as daverman's thought in helping to establish a security system and to help the police locate the thieves. Instal LoJack (spelling?) into each light. I know it might be expensive but if enough people want it the price should go down. That way the cops can follow the lights and take down the thieves when they wouldn't expect it.
Buckle Up
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Fl
Originally posted by Alexxx
Sting? I'm in....I'll bring the bats and the "gats". If I would ever catch someone doing something to my car....even if someone tries to key it I will break their face into pieces. No mercy to these bastards even if its the first time.
As far as daverman's thought in helping to establish a security system and to help the police locate the thieves. Instal LoJack (spelling?) into each light. I know it might be expensive but if enough people want it the price should go down. That way the cops can follow the lights and take down the thieves when they wouldn't expect it.
Sting? I'm in....I'll bring the bats and the "gats". If I would ever catch someone doing something to my car....even if someone tries to key it I will break their face into pieces. No mercy to these bastards even if its the first time.
As far as daverman's thought in helping to establish a security system and to help the police locate the thieves. Instal LoJack (spelling?) into each light. I know it might be expensive but if enough people want it the price should go down. That way the cops can follow the lights and take down the thieves when they wouldn't expect it.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: CA
I'm no expect either but this no charge for first time offender is total BS! That is like just asking the moda !@#!@# to try the first time and if you get away, do it again!
Damn the law can be so stupid at times
Damn the law can be so stupid at times
USMC Butterbars
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 0
From: VA
all this ish wid the headlights being stolen and transmission failures is really making me regret buying the tl...dont get me wrong...its a great car...i luv it to death...but being worried all the time is really pissin me off....i live in northern NJ..and reading all the reported thefts in that area is makin me scared ****less....man....wtf!?...
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Originally posted by shimbo519
all this ish wid the headlights being stolen and transmission failures is really making me regret buying the tl...dont get me wrong...its a great car...i luv it to death...but being worried all the time is really pissin me off....i live in northern NJ..and reading all the reported thefts in that area is makin me scared ****less....man....wtf!?...
all this ish wid the headlights being stolen and transmission failures is really making me regret buying the tl...dont get me wrong...its a great car...i luv it to death...but being worried all the time is really pissin me off....i live in northern NJ..and reading all the reported thefts in that area is makin me scared ****less....man....wtf!?...
There's got to be a way to make these lights either impossible or very difficult to steal or worthless if stolen, and there's got to be a way to let the thieves see that.
Banned
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 0
From: Western MA
Originally posted by monkeymato
Problem with LoJack. First isnt the unit to big to be put in the light? With cars and LoJack, a theif can pull into a gas station...look for the LoJack transmitter and pull it out. The gas station roof (the aluminum roof) stops all signal from the unit. There goes that idea.
Problem with LoJack. First isnt the unit to big to be put in the light? With cars and LoJack, a theif can pull into a gas station...look for the LoJack transmitter and pull it out. The gas station roof (the aluminum roof) stops all signal from the unit. There goes that idea.
1. The thief would have to know there is a LoJack unit in the first place. If you put a "Protected By LoJack" sticker on your car, well shame on you. It's not the kind of anti-theft device you advertise, or it defeats the purpose.
2. Roof/canopy on a gas station has absolutely no impact on a LoJack transmitter. It is not like a GPS unit that needs to "see" a satellite in the sky. It will continue to transmit (and be received) just fine under a gas station canopy.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Same thing happned to me in june. It's a real big problem. Whoever did it was damm lucky i didn't catch them. Anyway i think the only way we can catch them is if we catch them in the act and set them up. I haven't seen any though with lights missing hopefully it's stoping. But if anyone needs help catching them let me know i would defintely help.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Originally posted by shimbo519
all this ish wid the headlights being stolen and transmission failures is really making me regret buying the tl...dont get me wrong...its a great car...i luv it to death...but being worried all the time is really pissin me off....i live in northern NJ..and reading all the reported thefts in that area is makin me scared ****less....man....wtf!?...
all this ish wid the headlights being stolen and transmission failures is really making me regret buying the tl...dont get me wrong...its a great car...i luv it to death...but being worried all the time is really pissin me off....i live in northern NJ..and reading all the reported thefts in that area is makin me scared ****less....man....wtf!?...
It really blows to buy a nice decent car and have to go through this sh!t, another fact of life ...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
I was wondering what if we installed a cage around the outside of the front headlights. One that obviously wouldn't interfere with the lights of course. You think that might work? You sometimes see these cages on the outside of the taillights of SUV's. We'll just knock out the middle section. It'll definitely make the car uglier, but if my headlights don't get stolen who it's worth it. I think I might have an auto body guy tell me if it's possible.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Originally posted by mawaru
I was wondering what if we installed a cage around the outside of the front headlights. One that obviously wouldn't interfere with the lights of course. You think that might work? You sometimes see these cages on the outside of the taillights of SUV's. We'll just knock out the middle section. It'll definitely make the car uglier, but if my headlights don't get stolen who it's worth it. I think I might have an auto body guy tell me if it's possible.
I was wondering what if we installed a cage around the outside of the front headlights. One that obviously wouldn't interfere with the lights of course. You think that might work? You sometimes see these cages on the outside of the taillights of SUV's. We'll just knock out the middle section. It'll definitely make the car uglier, but if my headlights don't get stolen who it's worth it. I think I might have an auto body guy tell me if it's possible.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: LA, CA
Put Car Covers..over ur cars...when u park..this tend to ward them off....they don't want to go through too much hassle...
if ur car is covered...they have to take it off..it will bring attentino to them....
park in lighted areas...with more ppl and traffic going through..
city
if ur car is covered...they have to take it off..it will bring attentino to them....
park in lighted areas...with more ppl and traffic going through..
city
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Originally posted by monkeymato
Hey man. Just read you sig. dont wanna sound like a jackass but theres no such thing as a V-4. Its in I-4 (inline 4). fyi
Hey man. Just read you sig. dont wanna sound like a jackass but theres no such thing as a V-4. Its in I-4 (inline 4). fyi
http://world.honda.com/news/1998/2980410.html
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS, USA
Originally posted by Miles
factor in the cost of the cage, if they want it, no cage is gonna stop em, the cost might be even higher, but its worth a shot i guess, but damn, its gonna be ugly, aehaeheaheah i think if i put that on my baby, she'll spit it back right out! lol
factor in the cost of the cage, if they want it, no cage is gonna stop em, the cost might be even higher, but its worth a shot i guess, but damn, its gonna be ugly, aehaeheaheah i think if i put that on my baby, she'll spit it back right out! lol
But you're right, it's ugly.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
I say we go after ACURA!!!
I find it funny that TL's are the # 1 cars that these thieves are stealing headlights from. Acura could of prevented that when they manufactured the car. I wish I could find a good # of people to form a class action suit against them. I just bought my TL 3weeks ago & already I want to get rid of it, mainly because of the headlights being stolen(also some tranny problems). They tried to steal my headlights the 1st week I had my car, for some strange reason they stopped. They got the bumper half way off & left it, I was in a parking lot, so maybe someone seen them & they fled. Now, I only park where I can see my car or hear the alarm, if I can't then you best believe I'm double parking!!!!
Intermediate
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Ship them to Tora Bora
Not funny at all. I try to park in the safest spots. The article says Ft. Lee NJ and Clifton NJ, the 2 places where I work. I'm a sitting duck.
Yet over the weekend it was in East Brunswick where my car was hit with a crowbar to try & get my lights. Punched my fender through and cracked the housing, but for some reason they didn't finish. I had a bad premonition about my friend's apartment "guest" parking lot in East Brunswick. Never again will I park down there.
Shoot The F&CKers! I have to bring to Park Ave. to estimate. My car insurance has already jumped 10% in 6 months. Who knows how high it will go once my claim goes in.
Yet over the weekend it was in East Brunswick where my car was hit with a crowbar to try & get my lights. Punched my fender through and cracked the housing, but for some reason they didn't finish. I had a bad premonition about my friend's apartment "guest" parking lot in East Brunswick. Never again will I park down there.
Shoot The F&CKers! I have to bring to Park Ave. to estimate. My car insurance has already jumped 10% in 6 months. Who knows how high it will go once my claim goes in.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS, USA
It never fails to amaze me how one's insurance rates go up when one files a claim for something that happens to him. Isn't the whole point of insurance risk sharing? Why should I get punished for a random event that hit me?