British Volkswagen owners are facing an unusual wave of thefts, with front badges being removed from cars across London. Police recorded more than 70 such incidents in just a few days in the east of the capital.
The reason, as usual, is fairly mundane. On many modern models from the German automaker, a driver-assistance radar sits behind the emblem. The badge itself is of no interest to thieves; they remove it to access the expensive radar modules. According to Auto Express, the modules can fetch several hundred pounds on the black market.
For owners, however, the consequences are much more serious. After a theft, they have to replace not only the emblem but also the radar and then have it recalibrated. As a result, what looks like a minor theft can turn into a repair bill of around $3,400.
Police suspect the thefts are well organized because, in some cases, owners have spotted suspicious people near their vehicles and even drones.
So a modern Volkswagen emblem is more than just a badge. Hidden behind it is expensive electronics that, for some reason, can still be removed like a badge from an old Soviet-era car.
Police are advising owners of vehicles equipped with modern driver-assistance systems to park in well-lit areas, close to surveillance cameras, and report suspicious people who appear to be watching parked vehicles.