Burglars Hit OC Cadillac Dealership To Cash In On SUV Seats
LAGUNA NIGUEL (CBS) — A Cadillac dealership in Laguna Niguel is the latest victim in a string of burglaries apparently targeted at seats in sport utility vehicles.
KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports since January, teams of fast-moving burglars have broken into more than 300 SUVs at various locations throughout Orange County.
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Last Sunday, 17 Escalade vehicles were burglarized at the Allen Cadillac Laguna Niguel dealership on Camino Capistrano, according to Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amarmino.
The perpetrators specifically targeted the third-row bed seats, resulting in a total loss of over $43,000, Amarmino said. Each seat can reportedly fetch as much as $1,500 on the black market, while a retail replace costs about $3,500.
But Amarmino warned car dealerships aren't the only targets.
"Locations are all the malls, airports, Hoag Hospital, Fashion Island, Mission Viejo Mall, just about anyplace where there's large concentrations of vehicles," he said.
Drivers are advised to conceal any third-row SUV seats when not in use or secure them to the vehicle by bolting them down or using a locking device.
