Car thefts have soared in Montgomery County, with police raising the alarm about a surge in Honda model thefts, specifically newer CRVs, Accords, and Civics. Police say thieves are breaching the vehicles' computer systems, targeting cars in Upper Merion Township and nearby areas. "[They] have figured out how to override the computer systems in the stolen vehicles," police told FOX29.

The theft operation is alarmingly sophisticated and efficient, with criminals able to access these cars in as little as five minutes without needing a key, the Upper Merion police detailed. Despite the advanced technology in these vehicles, the thieves' tactics are proving successful at circumventing them. As part of their response, law enforcement urges Honda owners to take added precautions: subscribing to Honda's tracking service, purchasing steering wheel locks, using Apple AirTags for tracking, and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, according to NBC Philadelphia.

One resident of Gulph Mills Village, Bill Batta, expressed his lack of surprise at the thefts given his background in IT, though he wishes "manufacturers would do more to try and stop it." Batta's remark was covered in an interview with 6ABC. Another local, Eduardo Hernandez, recounted a potentially related suspicious incident when he spotted "three guys with flashlights going around, but the minute they saw me they took it away and ran off."

With Pennsylvania experiencing a spike in Honda thefts – a 44% increase for Accords and a 9% increase for Civics between 2020 and 2022, as per the latest data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau – the uptrend qualms both the public and police. The surge in reported crimes suggests a potential new trend in vehicle thefts, with law enforcement on high alert and advocating for increased vigilance among car owners.