Thieves Target Chrysler Radio, GPS Systems in Plymouth Township

Newer model Plymouth Township Chrysler owners are being advised to keep their cars in a garage, if possible, due to a string of thefts that happened during the early morning hours on July 19.

Four thefts happened in the area of 5 Mile and Haggerty Roads, and targeted only Chrysler model in-dash, touch-screen radio and navigation GPS units, according to police reports. 

The targeted cars included two Chrysler Town & Country Minivans, a Dodge Caravan and a Jeep Wrangler. In three of the four cases, the thieves smashed windows, punched door locks, or ripped open the plastic window in the case of the Jeep, to gain entry into the cars, according to the reports.

The units cost about $1,500, the reports said.

"What's happening is that insurance companies are not buying brand-new replacements for these units," he said.

Rozum also said that there is no way to track the units because they are not marked with any kind of product identification number or the car's vehicle identification number (VIN).  

"They are clean about it," Rozum said about the thieves. "They're unscrewing the units, not ripping out the dash. Even if people are locking their cars, they (thieves) are smashing windows or breaking locks to get them. The best thing people can do is to put is to put their cars in the garage, if they have them."