Top Ten Ways to Protect Yourself Against SUV and Minivan Theft

A few news reports caught my attention recently, like this one from Southern California, and this one from Dallas, Texas. Apparently, there's a rash of third row seat thefts breaking out. I decided to take a closer look at this trend, and in the process, I came up with this list of Top Ten Ways to Protect Yourself Against SUV and Minivan Theft.

Back to the third row, though. Unlike many parts of your SUV, like the engine, transmission and body panels, your third row seat is not uniquely identified with your specific vehicle. There's no serial number or VIN number on a third row seat. The replacement cost for a third row seat can be over $1,400 for a new item, and used ones command a healthy price on eBay and at salvage yards, making them targets for greedy thieves and unscrupulous chop shop operators.

You can combat third row theft with the tips that I've outlined in my article, and you can also make it a little tougher to steal your third row by adding a cable lock which will secure the seat to your SUV. Even better -- leave your third row seat at home unless you are using it. It's much easier to secure in your garage than in your vehicle.

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