WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2004, UPDATED 12:20 P.M. E.S.T.: Inspector Daniel Jackson, spokesman for the White Plains Department of Public Safety confirmed to WPCNR that there have been a series of Lexus headlight thefts in White Plains parking garages and out of driveways in the last month. Jackson said the computer chip the thieves seek is only found on the Lexus 300 Series SUV model. To date, Jackson reports fourteen such thefts within the city limits, but says to his knowledge there have been over 100 such thefts countywide. "We first noticed this when the county crime analysis unit spotted the trend."

A local body shop owner in White Plains noted to WPCNR that the headlights once removed or with the module taken out are "destroyed, they're useless." He also related that usually you cannot remove the headlights without bending or altering the fender housing the headlight console, The fender he said, if severely damanged, could cost the owner up to $10,000 to replace.

 The body man opined that usually the thieves use the computer chips to install headlights on their own cars. He said resale was not usually why the headlights were stolen. "They usaully want the modules for their own cars," he said.

Jackson said the police department has notified LEXUS 300S  SUV owners in White Plains by flyer to be aware of the problem. He urges owners parking their cars overnight to garage their vehicles, and if they hear any suspicious noises from their driveway, to contact the police and they will investigate.

Lure of the Fast and Furious

The lure of the headlights for thieves, Jackson said is "a module or chip on the back of the Lexus headlight that allows you to install Xenon headlights in any vehicle, like a Honda civic. It's the lure of the fast and furious hot cars."

Jackson described Xenon headlights as "the really bright white ones you see on the road."

WPCNR notes that Xenon Lights also come in varying colors of blue, red and green and work on a burning gas mechanism that produced a fierce brightness.

He said that thieves have taken entire  LEXUS headlights and sometimes just the modules, because, he said the module is easy to "pop out." Asked why the tinkering with the headlights does not set off anti-theft devices, Jackson said, that unless a hood is opened or a door opened, removal of the headlight does not generate enough movement to set off the typical anti-theft device.

Another problem for police is that the computer modules being taken do not have serial numbers on them, which causes prosecution difficulties, in Mr. Jackson's opinion. "They are expensive for the owner to replace," Jackson said.

Residences and Garages Targets

To date, Jackson said, none of the thefts in White Plains have found owners surprising theives removing headlights.

Jackson said an arrest was made in Greenwhich of one perpetrator stealing a Lexus headlight, but that obviously did not deter Tuesday evening's thefts in the city.

Thefts have occurred in the City Center, the TransCenter and the Hamilton Avenue garage.

DOT Traffic Law Violation.

Jackson, in the course of the interview said that xenon headlights are not legal on all vehicles in New York and if installed could result in a vehicle being out of compliance with the Department of Transporation law.