May 18, 2000

Is there a black market for car mirrors? Police in Murray and South Salt Lake are looking into that.

Dozens of side mirrors were stolen last night off new cars at four dealerships along State Street. Here's more from News Specialist Richard Piatt.

Today, you could buy a new Tahoe with all the options, but no side mirrors. Larry Miller Chevrolet is just one of four dealerships victimize by mirror thieves. It's an expensive, and annoying, loss.

Dan Johnson/Larry Miller Chevrolet: TAHOES/SUBURBANS ARE HOT UNITS AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SWAP MIRRORS OFF ANOTHER UNIT 'TIL WE GET THE PARTS HERE.

Hinckley Dodge in South Salt Lake had it the worst. 80 vehicles with no mirrors here. Each mirror worth between $100 and $300.

Kevin Jones/Hinckley Dodge: WE'VE HAD SPARE TIRES STOLEN AND OTHER ITEMS OFF VEHICLES. AND IT'S MORE A PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. BUT WE'VE NEVER HAD MIRRORS TAKEN.

These police officers have never investigated such a crime either. Detectives suspect more than one person, mostly because of the number of mirrors taken.

Richard Piatt, Eyewitness News: TO POLICE OFFICERS, ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THE CASE IS THE CARE THE THIEVES USED TO COMMIT THEIR CRIMES. YOU CAN SEE THE HOUSING OF THE MIRROR HASN'T BEEN DAMAGED. THE WIRES HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED CLEANLY. CLEARLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF BLACK MARKET FOR EXPENSIVE MIRRORS.

The thieves did make at least one mistake. A couple of the mirrors broke, and were left behind. Fingerprints from those mirrors are now being used to try and find out who is responsible for a crime described as part vandalism, part theft.

Police estimate 150 new cars are missing mirrors at the four dealerships.