Video: Multiple car thefts in South Philly; how to protect your property
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - A South Philly man is warning others after his car was stolen from right outside his house and he’s not the only one who was hit, as a rash of stolen cars in the area has occurred within the past week.
Many of the auto thefts were captured on various home surveillance cameras.
What we know:
Stephen Pagano left his house around 6 a.m. the morning of Tuesday January 14th. His Chrysler 300 was missing from the parking spot on Shunk between Rosewood and Broad Street and about 50 feet from his South Philly house. He found broken glass in the spot. He says he’s not the only victim in the area.
"You feel violated. You really do," said Pagano. Police say he filed a police report and they found glass at the scene.
Pagano isn’t sure how the car was started. He says it’s a push start vehicle. He also says there have been at least three incidents nearby in less than a week.

"One of my neighbors on the same night my car was stolen noticed that somebody had a key fob and they were able to get in his car. And then a couple nights later my sister told me one of her friends on 19th and Porter, his car was stolen right in front of his house. It took under four minutes. It was all on video. And then a buddy of mine on 11th and Daley, they broke in a car about 2 o'clock in the morning," he said.
By the numbers:
According to the Philadelphia Police Department's website there have been 10 reported auto thefts between January 17th and 21st in South Philly. According to the data auto thefts occurred:
- January 17, 2025 at 2900 S 16th Street and 2400 S 19th Street.
- January 19, 2025 at 1200 S Broad Street, 700 Federal Street,1100 S 5th Street and 1600 Naudain Street.
- January 20, 2025 at 900 S Front Street.
- January 21, 2025 at 1100 S 18th Street, 1200 S 17th Street and 900 S Water Street.

What's next:
Pagano urges neighbors to be on high alert.
"Keep your key fob as far away from your front door as possible, put them in a tin can if you could, wrap them up and make sure your doors are locked. I'm gonna go back to the old school club and put it on my car just to play it safe. That's all we can do right now. Hopefully the thefts come down," said Pagano.
The Source: Information in this story is from a car theft victim, neighbors who did not want to be identified, Philadelphia Police and PhillyPolice.com.