Crime & Safety

Newport Beach Thieves Target SUV Third-Row Seats, Navigations

Rash of thefts is reported in Newport Beach. Police encourage residents to report suspicious activity.

A spike in burglarized SUVs in Newport Beach has police encouraging residents to be vigilant.

Police say on Saturday, between 3 and 10 p.m., 11 SUVs were burglarized in three locations. The thieves took off with in-dash navigation systems and third-row seats. The SUVs targeted were Chevy Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades.

Most of the vehicles were in the area of 1 Hoag Dr., the 3400 block of Via Lido and the 300, 600, 700 and 1100 blocks of Newport Center Drive and were locked and parked in parking structures. Seven of the vehicles had their door locks punched, but the other five vehicles showed no signs of forced entry, police said. 

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Police also report that during the last few months, thieves have stolen several third-row seats from SUVs. The following tips are recommended to keep your third-row seats secure:

  • Use a bicycle-style cable lock to secure the third-row seat to your vehicle. 
  • Remove the seat when not in use. 
  • Park your vehicle in the garage. 
  • Engrave the VIN number or your driver license number on the seat frame.
  • Consider parking in an open lot. At night, make sure the lot is well-lighted. Most of the thefts have occurred in parking structures.
  •  When possible, back your vehicle in against a solid object to prevent access to the rear of your vehicle. 


If you see suspicious activity, call the Newport Beach Police Department at 949-644-3717.

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