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Police Search For Man Stealing Car Batteries Out Of Jeeps

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia police are looking for a man accused of stealing several car batteries over the past two months.

Surveillance video from June 20 shows a man getting out of the driver's side of a Honda Civic with a Pennsylvania license plate number: JTN1733.

Video shows the suspect walking up to a Jeep Wrangler, pops the hood, takes the battery and strolls back to his car.

Police say the theft happened on the 2000 block of Lombard Street.

But this isn't the only incident.

Investigators say from May through July, there have been several batteries stolen throughout the city by the same man. City wide, police said car battery theft is up 41% year-to-year.

Multiple Jeep Wrangler Battery Thefts 2000 block of Lombard St DC 2017 17 024108 by PhiladelphiaPolice on YouTube

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According to police, most of the batteries were taken from Jeep Wranglers because it's easy to open the hood.  Detectives said the simple fix is to get an after-market product that makes the hood more secure.  CBS 3 found them available to order online ranging in price from $70 to $120.

Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip with police by calling 215.686.TIPS.

 

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