Thieves Stealing 3rd Row Seats From Dallas SUVs

Police in a wealthy Texas enclave are reporting a rash of SUV break-ins in which thieves are stealing third-row seats.

University Park police urge SUV owners to park in their garages and lock the seats down with cables.

Police say several third-row SUV seats have been stolen since April with 18 reported last week.

The Dallas Morning News reports that thieves sell the seats to shops, at swap meets and online for hundreds of dollars. They are easily removed to make room for cargo and can be snapped back in for additional seating.

Replacing third-rows can cost more than $1,500 from automotive dealerships.

Officer Lita Snellgrove says in University Park it’s a vicious circle because now that so many seats have been stolen there is a high demand for them.