WHITTIER
– Police warned the public Saturday about a recent rash of vehicle burglaries
targeting the third-row seats from SUVs.

“In
the past month, the Whittier Police have taken 10 reports of third-row seats being
stolen from full-size SUVs,” Whittier police officials said in a written
statement. Targeted vehicles have included Chevrolets, Cadillacs and GMCs.

In
many cases, police said, the seats are stolen from busy shopping centers during
the middle of the day.

The
seats have become popular items for thieves because they can be quickly removed
from the SUVs and are easy to re-sell, authorities said.

Sheriff’s
deputies in Pico Rivera arrested two men Oct. 25 after they were seen breaking
into a car, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Robert Smith said shortly after
the incident. Four allegedly stolen third-row seats from SUVs were found in
their Chevrolet Tahoe.

To
avoid becoming a victim, police advise SUV owners to remove their third row
seats if not being used and store them at home, or secure them to the vehicle
with a bicycle lock.

As
always, officials said, anyone who sees a suspicious person looking into
vehicles in a parking lot is advised to call the police.