Car owners are facing a costly new crime trend: thieves targeting small radar sensors that control safety features like cruise control and collision avoidance.
At a Glance
- Thieves pry off sensors hidden behind license plates or emblems
- Resale value to crooks: about $150
- Replacement cost to owners: $2,000-$3,000
- Why it matters: A $50 guard or secure parking can save thousands in repairs
The sensors, tucked behind front plates or automaker badges, power popular driver-assist technologies most motorists never notice. “There’s a lot of bells and whistles on cars that people don’t realize they have,” said Oleg Lurye, production manager at National Auto Body in Rockville, Maryland.
Surveillance Video Shows Rapid Thefts
A video obtained by News Of Philadelphia captures thieves popping the sensors in seconds. The rising thefts have prompted stepped-up neighborhood patrols, according to police.
The Economics Behind the Crime
Criminals can flip a sensor for roughly $150 on the black market. Victims, however, face bills that start at $2,000 and climb past $3,000 once recalibration and labor are included. “Roughly speaking I would say between 2 to $3,000 at least,” Lurye said.
Most-Targeted Models
An online search shows Honda CR-V sensors are currently in high demand, but thieves also hit Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and luxury-brand vehicles equipped with radar-based safety packages.
How to Protect Your Car
Police and body-shop techs recommend a layered approach:
- Install a $30-$50 radar-sensor guard; stainless-steel plates bolt over the sensor and take minutes to fit
- Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas or inside a locked garage
- Angle your front bumper toward a wall or another vehicle when street-parking
- Set the car alarm to its most sensitive setting; jarring the sensor triggers the siren
“Anything that slows the thief down or makes noise helps,” said Lurye.
Repair Reality
Replacing a stolen sensor is not plug-and-play. Technicians must:
- Re-code the new unit to the vehicle’s computer
- Re-aim the radar for proper field of view
- Test all advanced-driver-assistance features
Skipping these steps can disable adaptive cruise, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.
Key Takeaways
- The part thieves want is smaller than a deck of cards yet costs up to $3,000 to replace
- A cheap guard or secure parking spot offers strong deterrence
- Report suspicious activity around parked cars; thefts take under a minute
