A group of organized thieves targeting high-end Ford trucks, including the popular F-350 model, has been busted by Texas law enforcement. The three suspects, Jimmy Dean Miller, Jaleel D. Fasion, and Sergio Giovanni Sanfilippo, are facing charges for stripping dozens of taillights from Ford trucks worth over $92,000.
According to police, the thieves traveled along the I-45 highway corridor between Houston and Galveston, targeting vehicles with luxury models that contain expensive sensors in their taillights. The sensors, which cost a lot of money, are part of the vehicle’s overall system and can be removed by unscrewing them from the truck.
The stolen parts were then sold online to unsuspecting truck owners who wanted replacements but may not have wanted to pay retail price. Police believe the thieves targeted these luxury vehicles because the sensors in their taillights are expensive.
To protect their vehicles, drivers are advised to take precautions such as purchasing aftermarket tailgate locks or scratching a series of numbers into the inside of their taillights to make them identifiable if stolen.
The police chief warned that this emerging crime trend may spread to other areas and urged truck owners to remain vigilant. With three suspects arrested so far, law enforcement expects more organized theft rings targeting taillights to emerge in the future.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/drivers-targeted-emerging-crime-trend-130056319.html