Porsche Cayenne and Panamera owners have long known that theft of xenon headlight assemblies is a big risk, big enough to generate a class-action lawsuit in south Florida against the automaker. Thieves know that the headlight assemblies can be pried loose with a screwdriver in just a matter of minutes, resulting in a significant bill to owners for both bodywork and replacement headlights. We suppose the risk of theft is decreasing, as more cars now come from the factory with HID headlights, and aftermarket kits are decreasing in price.
In Amsterdam, however, Porsche owners face a new and unexpected threat. As AutoVisie reports, the headlights are being stolen by those with marijuana grow operations, as the bulbs produce an ideal temperature of light plus radiant heat. They’re energy-efficient, too, which helps prevent one of the common tells of grow house operation.
How prevalent is the threat? Some 20 Porsche Cayenne and Panamera models in Amsterdam had headlights stolen last week. That’s significant enough to raise concern among owners and authorities alike. Don’t think that parking under a light or under a security camera will do much good, either, since the theft takes just minutes. Short of camping out in your car, the next best option is to keep it safely garaged until the current wave of thefts is over.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
