Volvo headlights, Volkswagen navigation systems and Toyota catalytic converters: thieves find their way into stealing individual car parts. Tesla exterior mirrors are also popular: a month ago three more men were arrested for stealing 87 pieces.
Determined make and type
“Criminals steal specific parts, because there is a lot of demand for them from the market,” says Andre Bouwman of the National Vehicle Crime Information Center. “Stolen ‘on order’ is done and asked for a certain make and type.”
This image is confirmed by Rob Smitkamp of the Vehicle Crime Insurance Agency. No longer is things stolen from the car, such as laptops or sunglasses, but specific parts. “Criminals are given the specific assignment to steal the multimedia system from BMWs, for example.”
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That the theft of parts is on an upward trend, confirms a spokesperson for insurance company Nationale Nederlanden. The stealing of parts goes in waves from brand to brand. “An Audi A3 is popular one half year, a BMW type a month later. It is also striking that thieves first stole the airbag, but now the entire multimedia system.”
According to Bouwman, the stealing of these specific parts happens for two reasons. The first is that criminals want to pimp cars. Special components come in handy here. “Audi brand wheels are popular or Volkswagen luxury navigation systems. People want that.” In addition, the stolen parts are in demand in the so-called damage repair sector. Because a new fender or bumper is expensive nowadays. “How can you reduce costs? By stealing parts. This creates a market for criminals.”
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What are the police doing?
Expressing the increase is difficult, because certain parts are stolen from different car brands in a short period of time. That also makes it a problem that is difficult for the police to tackle. Preventing it in particular is almost impossible. The only way is extra surveillance at night. “And if the crime is aimed at a specific neighborhood, a plan can be devised,” says a spokesperson for the Rotterdam police.
To get more information about the thefts, the police watch camera images, call witnesses and conduct a neighborhood investigation. They also check whether parts show up somewhere in the neighborhood and whether there is a connection between the thefts. “Is it about individual incidents, about one person or is there a gang active?”
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How do you prevent it?
There are few ways to prevent this form of car theft. In addition to the job being done within five minutes, Bouman says, criminals also know what they are doing. “They choose cheaper cars, without an alarm system. In cars up to 50,000 euros that is often not possible. Then they tap in a window, open the hood, use the right tools, unscrew the bolts of the engine head and it is gone. . “
Prevention is difficult, but not entirely impossible. Bouman advises to install an alarm system in your car or to park your car indoors. “Then you know when a diamond is tapped.”
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