Thieves stole ten cars throughout New Haven over a seven-day period. All ten cars were Hondas.
Someone also tried unsuccessfully to steal a car outside Gateway Community College at Church and George streets last Tuesday around 6:35 p.m. That car, too, was a Honda.
What’s going on?
An old story — rearing its head again in New Haven.
Nationally, older-model Hondas — from the 1990s and early 2000s — are the most-frequently stolen cars. Click here, here and here to read about some of that.
New Haven cops have known that since the 1990s. Honda thefts have gone in waves. The period from Sunday March 3 through Saturday March 9 saw one such wave. It pretty much touched all parts of town.
Thieves can break into an older Honda and start it up within seconds with any key that has had its grooves and knobs shaved down, according to Sgt. Robert Lawlor, who heads the robbery and burglary unit of New Haven’s police department. The company has designed the ignition in newer models to require a key with an electronic chip, cutting down on the thefts.
In at least some of the thefts over the recent seven-day period, thieves drove off, stripped the cars of parts and then abandoned the vehicles.
Here’s where and when the thefts were reported between Sunday March 3 and Saturday March 9:
• Chapel and Orange streets, Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
• 27 Temple St. (outside Kudeta restaurant), Sunday, 3:03 p.m.
• 1 Long Wharf Dr., Tuesday,5:28 p.m.
• Howard Avenue and Spring Street, Saturday, 2:03 a.m.
• 84 Broadway, Saturday, 7:45 p.m.
• 33 Sylvan Ave., Monday, 9:09 a.m.
• 249 County St., Tuesday, 12:54 a.m.
• 73 Nicoll St., Saturday, 3:51 a.m.
• 216 Poplar St. lot, Monday, 8:05 p.m.
• 55 Farren Ave., Monday, 5:10 p.m.