In the past two weeks, a series of car thefts have hit Delaware County hard. Upper Darby Township faced 16 incidents while Haverford Township dealt with eight stolen vehicles.
“Some of the cars that are being dumped here in Upper Darby Township are from Camden and Philadelphia,” said Superintendent Tim Bernhardt. “They’re coming into Upper Darby and taking another car, going and committing crimes as far away as Montgomery County and Philadelphia, some of those are violent crimes.”
Security footage shows a dramatic scene: a stolen silver SUV crashing into a wall and fence on Sommers Avenue in Drexel Hill. The suspects fled through a nearby driveway.
The thieves show a clear pattern. They target Honda Accords, striking when owners leave key fobs inside. On Melrose Avenue in Havertown, two cars vanished from the same block. Police later tracked both vehicles to Philadelphia.
“It’s scary. We have two young kids. We always thought this was a safe neighborhood. Police patrol all the time, but unfortunately this still happens,” said Jason Mannion.
Officials suggest three key steps for protection: pick bright spots for parking, keep key fobs with you, and clear out valuable items. In response to the crisis, Upper Darby Township Police now offer free wheel locks to residents who can show proof of local address.
Got tips about these thefts? Contact the Upper Darby Police Department at (610) 734-7693, or reach the Haverford Township Police Department at (610) 853-1298.