New Honda owner wakes up to wheels stripped, window smashed in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia resident who recently bought a Honda said he discovered his car stripped of all four wheels and a smashed window Tuesday morning, highlighting what police and residents describe as a persistent problem for Honda owners in the city.
Elias Sulpizio of Fairmount said he had owned the vehicle for only three weeks when he found it on Monday morning with its wheels missing. The vehicle was parked on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
"I used to have a beater for the past couple years. I just bought this three weeks ago. It only had 700 miles on it, so kinda regretting that decision," he said.
Sulpizio said he wasn't shocked when he saw the damage, having heard about other incidents in the area.
READ MORE | Thieves target Honda SUVs, leaving them stripped inside Philly parks
"It's just annoying; it took up my whole morning. They probably made a couple grand off it, so I guess, good for them," he laughed.
Police say Hondas are frequent targets because their parts are interchangeable, difficult to trace, and highly valuable.
Residents in several neighborhoods report similar thefts, including Sean Boyle of Spring Garden, who said thieves stole the wheels off his Honda two years ago, and again this past weekend.
"Sunday morning, I was out walking, having my coffee, watching F1, and I noticed, oh my gosh, all my tires are stolen. It was crazy," he recalled.
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Last week, Philadelphia police's major crimes unit said it was tracking a string of Honda CR-V thefts and showed Action News where some stolen vehicles have been found stripped and abandoned in parks and wooded areas, including along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park.
Despite the inconvenience and cost, some residents said they are trying to keep the situation in perspective.
"I mean, my deductible, I'm getting banged on that, but at the end of the day it's first world problems. It's all gonna figure itself out. God forbid I was hurt; no one was hurt. It's just a car; we can fix these things, so it's all good," Boyle said.
Police recommend wheel locks, which cost about $30 online. While determined thieves can bypass them, the devices may deter theft attempts because it'll require more work, take longer, and create more noise.
Another tip: park as close to the curb as possible to limit space for a jack.
