Police Warn of Vehicle Parts Thefts

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has issued a warning letting residents know about a growing crime trend. Police departments around the county have seen an increase in thefts of SUV third row seats.

Thieves are especially targeting Chevy and GMC vehicles, though other manufacturers' vehicles with third row seats could also become targets.

Moorpark hasn't been immune to these crimes and has had these thefts occur at shopping centers during daytime and early evening hours. Thousand Oaks and Camarillo have experienced the same.

Thieves are targeting the seats because they are a popular commodity on the resale market. The third row seats can be removed in just a few seconds and resale can yield a profit upwards of around $1,500 per seat, according to the Sheriff's department. Thieves resell the seats on craigslist and eBay or at local swap meets. The replacement cost of a third row seat is around $4,000.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would recommends the following safety measures to prevent becoming a victim:

• Secured the third row seat using a cable lock
• Engrave the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a location on the seat. (This will help with identification purposes or decrease their resale value)
• Remove your seat when not in use.
• Lock your vehicle and activate your vehicle alarm system.

In the wake of this recent increase, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to be watchful of suspicious people or vehicles. If you see any suspicious activity, contact the Sheriff’s office at 805-654-9511 or 9-1-1 for an emergency.