Thieves target the 3rd seat

Ruby Gonzales at the Whittier Daily News talked to cops who said there's a growing trend of car theives targeting the removable 3rd seat in Chevy SUVs.

So add that third seat to a growing list of coveted items that includes tools, copper, catalytic converters, cell phones and iPODs.,

Here's a piece of Ruby's story:

The seats, which are removable and carry no serial numbers, end up being sold for as much as $2,000 in a thriving black market.

Thefts of such seats, especially from Tahoes, are happening in other communities, too.

The sheriff's Norwalk Station, which covers Norwalk, La Mirada and the unincorporated county areas of East Whittier and South Whittier, had 50 such thefts last year and 17 so far this year, according to Sgt. Steve Mills.

About 35 of the 50 cases last year involved Tahoes. And of the 17 SUVs that had third-row seats stolen to date this year, Mills said eight were Tahoes.

The latest theft happened April 7.

"They pop right out. They get in the vehicle real quick and remove them real quick," Mills said. "They favor the Tahoe. I don't know (why)."

So, I searched for 3rd Rows on Ebay and here's what I found.