Kia, Hyundai thefts surge in Northeast Ohio amidst social media trend

CLEVELAND — A driver crashed a suspected stolen Kia Sportage right into a entrance yard on Cleveland’s East Facet in a single day.

It occurred at Pratt Avenue and East 97th Road Tuesday morning. After the crash, they took off and haven’t but been arrested.

Our Information 5 digicam captured a broken steering column and USB cable within the ignition.

Crooks are laser-focused on stealing Hyundais and Kias throughout the nation, and Northeast Ohio has skilled a spike in thefts as effectively.

Information 5 reported final week that police mentioned greater than 3,000 automobiles have been stolen within the metropolis for the reason that begin of the 12 months.

That is a 13% improve over final 12 months.

Investigators say the thief will sometimes break right into a automobile, take away the steering column, tear off the place a driver would put the important thing into the ignition, and insert a USB cable into the area.

The USB is someway in a position to begin sure fashions of Hyundais and Kias.

The pattern has grown in recognition after individuals began posting about it on social media utilizing the hashtag “#KiaBoys”.

An Ohio Metropolis lady who requested to stay nameless spoke with Information 5 Monday night about her private encounter.

Have you learnt these males? Ohio Metropolis lady catches thieves on digicam whereas they attempt to steal her automobile

She informed Information 5’s Jessi Schultz that it has gotten so unhealthy she and her fiancé wouldn’t park their Hyundai Elantra on the road.

They chanced it, and in the end her ring doorbell captured the tense and chaotic second crooks tried to steal her automobile.

The video reveals her operating after the lads who have been driving a KIA of their very own, breaking into her Elantra.

As they noticed her, they left the automobile behind and received out of the world.

Many drivers are choosing up the items and coping with a pricy aftermath that she describes, “The again driver’s aspect door window is smashed in. The entire plastic protecting across the steering wheel has been pulled off. The windshield wiper factor has been fully ripped off.”

Specialists say there’s a slight glimmer of hope on this scenario.

Crooks cannot begin the automobile if it has a push-to-start button.

Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless breaking into many automobiles.

Specialists recommend parking your automobile inside a storage, parking near your private home, utilizing residence surveillance footage, shopping for an immobilizer that may stop the automobile from being began with an outdoor gadget, and utilizing a steering wheel lock.

Many police departments throughout Northeast Ohio are giving out steering wheel locks together with Cleveland, East Cleveland, and North Royalton Police.

Examine along with your space division and see if they’ve any free steering wheel locks readily available.