Thieves are going to the mall – not to hit the stores – but to strip parked cars of their fog lights.
Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station have been out in force at the Westfield Valencia Town Center mall since learning about the theft spree.
Patrol deputies, along with crime prevention deputies have been carrying out “operations” regarding the rash of fog light theft reports that have been received over the last few months, Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station posted on the sheriff’s social media.
Incidents of fog light theft have been reported, particularly with 2016 and 2017 Honda Accords.
Many of the thefts have occurred in the Westfield Valencia Town Center mall parking lot and other shopping center parking lots throughout SCV, Miller reported.
Station personnel have been patrolling the targeted areas- serving as a deterrent to any would-be thieves by their proactive police presence.
“We have noted that since we started these operations, fog light thefts have decreased and we will continue these proactive patrols,” Miller wrote on her post.
Fog lights may seem like an insignificant vehicle part until you have to replace them.
Depending on the vehicle, they can cost in upwards of $400.00 or more, and we are determined to stop this crime trend from affecting our residents.
Sheriff’s officials have a message for motorists: “Stay vigilant and check your vehicle’s fog lights, especially if you have one of the targeted vehicles – and you’ve been parked in a public parking lot.
If you find that you are a victim of a fog light theft, please call us at (661) 255-1121.
SCV Sheriff’s Burglary Team Sergeant Chris Maurizi was quoted on the social media post saying: “If you have the ability- back your vehicle up into a parking space, because that increases visibility and may deter a ‘potential thief’ from being undetected as they remove the fog lights.”
661-287-5527
on Twitter @jamesarthurholt
