Thieves steal headlights faster than you can tell at first glance

The increasing theft of headlights from premium vehicles has become a lucrative venture, with individual units costing more than $3,000

Car theft isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when thieves stole entire vehicles. Now they’re focusing on specific parts that can be quickly removed and turned over profitably. A notable goal? Premium model headlights are leading to a worrying new trend in the UK called ‘eye-snatching’.

Over the past few decades, headlight design has evolved from simple to sophisticated, and many vehicles now feature advanced matrix LED technology and dynamic active features. As a result, the cost of a single headlight unit can reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

High costs of headlight technology

Take the BMW 4 Series, for example, where each laser headlight costs well under $3,000 reach. Meanwhile, Audi’s Matrix LED units with laser for the Q7 cost around $4,300 one piece. Because of their exposed location, these expensive components have become easy targets for thieves.

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While ripping out the headlight assembly may result in some collateral damage—think bumper, fender, and hood—it’s still much quicker than charging an entire car. Additionally, it’s easier and safer for criminals to sell individual parts to local stores or to unsuspecting online shoppers who likely think they’re getting a bargain on a sweet upgrade.

Quick theft with big profits

Philip Swift, technical director at Claims Management & Adjusting (CMA), commented on the headlight theft epidemic in an interview with Fleetworld. He said: “Such attacks are rudimentary but effective – rip out the headlights and get out quickly.” While it is unlikely there will be a write-off due to the expensive profile of the affected vehicles, these are costly repairs .” It seems like a real bargain, but not in a good way.

Swift continued: “Similar to catalytic converter thefts, this is another troubling motor vehicle crime trend that is increasing pressure to increase insurance premiums. “It also creates even more headaches for our already overstretched police forces.”

Increasing incidents of manipulation

According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, incidents of vehicle tampering increased by 2 percent between April 2023 and March 2024, from 52,268 to 53,369. This alarming number includes cases where parts have been stolen from parked vehicles, such as wheels, tires, headlights and even mechanical components.

A British company called Tracker believes that vehicles are worth more disassembled than intact, thanks to ever-increasing prices for spare parts. In the first half of 2024 alone, Tracker and British police broke up 37 “chop shops” dedicated to dismantling stolen cars, a significant increase on the 55 similar cases they handled throughout 2023.

Bentley Continental GT – Illustration by CarScoops