Hondas Being Stolen Throughout New Haven

Police in New Haven have seen an increase in the theft of Hondas around the city.

Lisandra Granados knows all too well that Hondas are a hot pick among car thieves.  Her Honda was stolen from in front of her house on Chapel Street.

“When I wake up in the morning to go to work, I'm looking and my car is gone,” said Granados.

Fortunately for her, authorities were able to find her Honda and return it to her in pretty good condition.

“Lot of scratches, but thank God they don't steal the motor, transmission, nothing like that,” said Granados.

In the past month, ten Hondas have been stolen across New Haven.  Some of the thefts happened in downtown, over on Long Wharf and in the city's Hill section.

Former police chief and University of New Haven Professor John DeCarlo says for years, Hondas have been the most popular stolen cars.  He says there are a few reasons for that.  First, there are simply more Hondas on the road.

“Secondly, they're good cars, they last longer, and that puts older cars without the benefit of the technology that we put in cars in the 2000's on the road, and more prone to being stolen because they're easier to steal,” said DeCarlo.

The 1997 Accord and 1998 Civic top the National Insurance Crime Bureau's list for Connecticut.  Honda parts also have a good resale value, which makes them enticing for thieves to steal and take apart. 

There are things the NICB says you can do to make your car less enticing, like removing your keys, locking your doors and parking in a well-lit area.  Also, you can invest in warning devices like car alarms, immobilizing devices like a steering wheel club, or install tracking devices inside your vehicle to help track it down if it's taken.  All good tips that drivers like Granados now listen to.

“What I do is I put my car alarm and I put a full coverage just in case something happens again like that,” said Granados.

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