Honda releases new theft-deterrent accessory as thieves continue to target certain vehicles

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -- MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -

Honda is now offering the owners of certain vehicles a theft-deterrent accessory to help prevent their cars from being stolen.

Matthew Beatty, the Fixed Operations Director for JL Freed Honda in Montgomeryville, spoke with Action News about the accessory on Thursday afternoon.

He said the dealership has heard from multiple customers who have had their new cars stolen over the past year.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Honda Accord and CR-V rank in the top 10 of most stolen cars.

Beatty explained that most thieves will break into a vehicle and clone the key fobs in order to steal it.

"There's a port on the car, what they call an OBD-II. We would plug our computers in to program a car," Beatty said. "They've been able to steal the software, or make the software that they can plug their own device into it."

"Then, they take another key that they have, a Honda key, and they program the key just like they're the owner of the car."

He said that allows them to start the car and drive away.

To combat this, Honda is now releasing what it calls a "reprogram deterrent kit." Beatty said it will disable the port thieves plug into as they try to clone a fob.

"They will not be able to get the data that they need to reprogram the key, so it will stop them from taking the car," he explained.

As of now, this accessory is only available for 2023 and newer Honda Accords, CR-Vs and Pilots. According to Beatty, those models have been reported stolen most often.

He said this new accessory, which will cost customers several hundred dollars, is meant to provide protection and peace of mind.

Action News has previously reported on various thefts involving Honda vehicles.

In an exclusive report in April, Philadelphia Police told Action News about two separate investigations into Honda thefts in the city and surrounding areas.

"All these Hondas are getting stolen, one after the other," said James Nusky, of Holmesburg.

In late March, Nusky almost lost his 2021 Honda Accord to thieves.

He said around 3:30 a.m. on March 23, three men attempted to steal his car from his driveway.

When he heard an alarm go off, he opened his front door and saw the men. They ran.

"I'm standing in the doorway just watching them, and they're running for their car," he said. "And the one guy is pointing the pistol at me as he's running to his car, and when he got to the car, he fired at me."

Nusky immediately called police, who told us they're still investigating the incident.

Soon after the incident, Nusky decided to trade in his Accord.

"One of the guys at the dealership said to me, ' Be careful because they're going to come back, and they're going to try to get that car.'"

According to Philadelphia police, more than 12,000 vehicles have been stolen citywide this year, and just over a quarter of them were Hondas.