WYANDOTTE (WWJ) - The recent theft of a Dodge Charger and a high speed chase with the suspected thieves has police in Wyandotte putting out a warning to car owners.
The Downriver police department said they suspect a group of "dangerous" car thieves are going around the area with key fobs that can start Dodge Chargers.
Thieves are also able to steal the muscle cars by duplicating the key fobs with a computerized device.
"They show up and the car is gone in seconds," police said on their social media.
In the most recent theft, police said a local resident's 2021 Dodge Charger 392 Scat Pack was stolen right from his driveway on the 900 block of Plum.
According to authorities, the owner was sleeping when he woke up around 1 a.m. Friday to the sound of his car's engine roaring to life.
"He ran outside to see it racing off with another Charger," police said. "...WPD is more than confident that the second Charger was stolen, too."
Officers gave chase when they located the Charges driving down Fort near Emmons, but called off the pursuit when the drivers of both cars turned off their lights and sped off "well over 100 mph."
In addition to having his vehicle stolen, the victim told police the thieves made off with two sets of golf clubs and a power tool set he had stashed in the Charger.
Together, police said the items were valued at over $3,500.
One commenter on social media who lives less than a block away from the theft said she takes preventative measures when family members comes to visit.
"My sister-in-law has [a Dodge Charger], and when she visits, we make sure to physically block her in the driveway so no one can get at it," she wrote.
It's a smart move, according to The National Insurance Crime Bureau. In addition to physically deterring theft with such measures, the organization offered a number of steps to help owners prevent against car theft:
1. Common Sense — the common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves.
You should always:
• Remove your keys from the ignition
• Lock your doors/close your windows
• Park in a well-lit area
2. Warning Device — the second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:
• Audible alarms
• Steering column collars
• Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
• Brake locks
• Wheel locks
• Theft deterrent decals
• Identification markers in or on vehicle
• VIN etching
• Micro dot marking
3. Immobilizing Device — the third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:
• Smart keys
• Fuse cut-offs
• Kill switches
• Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
• Wireless ignition authentication
4. Tracking Device — the final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.