If you don’t nail it down, someone will take it away.
While most people would associate this phrase with retail theft or theft of personal items in the home, it apparently also applies to cars.
From catalytic converters to Kia and Hyundai vehicles, thieves have figured out how to make the most of their time by hacking and stealing everything from valuable parts to entire cars.
Now, as some thieves appear to be targeting front-end sensors on cars like the Honda Accord Hybrid, one automotive expert and content creator is taking the opportunity to educate his audience by explaining what happens when sensors are removed from vehicles that rely on them for much of their operation.
Reply to @lynxalwaysright @_Tyy_ This happens when a #2024 #Honda sensor gets stolen from a vehicle. ##hondaaccord##THEBRONX##hondacivic##Accord##stolen##FYP##foryoupage##carsoftiktok ♬ Original Sound – LYNXALWAYSRIGHT
In a video uploaded to TikTok that has been viewed more than 145,000 times, @lynxalwaysright, an auto enthusiast and expert who primarily delivers car-focused content, shows how many of the systems in the 2024 Honda Accord rely on sensors at the front of the vehicle being present and working properly.
“Hey guys, if someone steals your sensor, this is what happens,” he says in the video. “All this pops up. The sensor is the brains of the car. If you plug the sensor back in, everything goes back to normal. So it’s okay to remove the sensor and plug it back in. Don’t worry, we’ll take it away!”
In his comments, he clarified that unlike other Hondas he’s seen, his sensor wasn’t stolen — if he feels he’s parked in a spot where it might be stolen, he simply removes the sensor and puts it back before driving the car.
The Daily Dot reached out to @lynxalwaysright through TikTok direct messages and comments on the video.
Is it an expensive item to replace?
According to Honda Parts Connection, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for this sensor is about $800, but depending on where shoppers look, they can get it for around $500. Labor costs should also be considered if you’re not able to replace the sensor yourself.
One viewer shared a story about how they or a family member had a front radar sensor stolen shortly after purchasing a Honda with one.
“It cost me $1,700 to replace it after it was stolen,” one commenter wrote.
“Sorry, but my daughter bought a 2018 Honda Accord Sport and the sensor was removed 6 months after she bought it,” another user chimed in.
“I never knew this existed until it happened to me. I thought I’d run over a pothole or something,” one user wrote. “I took it to Honda and they told me what happened and said it would cost $1200 to fix.”
Others pointed out that the idea of removing a critical sensor is very similar to the previous generation’s idea of removing car radios while parked to prevent theft.
“This reminds me of the early 2000s,” one commenter wrote. “Removable CD player faceplate to prevent radio theft.”
“Remember back in the 80s and 90s you had to take your car radio out and put a club on the steering wheel,” another commenter wrote. “This is the new theft!”
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