Kia And Hyundai Thefts: USB Trick Used To Steal Locked Cars

A nationwide social media trend has hit one of our News On 6 co-workers, where thieves use a USB cord to steal Kias and Hyundais.

Thieves stole one of our producer's cars over Labor Day weekend while she was out of town, even though her car had been locked.

Investigators tell News On 6 that this is a trend they've been trying to stop.

Police say Kias and Hyundais have been easy targets because of issues with the cars' anti-theft systems. The thieves break into a car and then use the end of a USB cord to start the car and drive off. Police found our producer's car the next day. It did have some minor damage, but she's glad to have it back.

Kris Crawford produces our six o’clock newscast and had heard of the car theft trend on social media but never thought it would happen to her.

“Tuesday morning, I woke up, went downstairs, went to where I thought I parked my car; it wasn't there. I was like, maybe I left it somewhere else, so I walked the entire complex; it still wasn't t there. I checked with my front office; did they tow my car on accident? No,” said Crawford.

Police later found her car in a parking lot near 81st and Yale. Her door lock was broken, the steering column was destroyed, and the thieves left a cellphone in her car. She said she quickly found out she wasn't the only victim.

“I found someone on Next Door, and his car was stolen that same weekend that mine was, and they found him in an apartment complex near where they found mine,” said Crawford.

Lieutenant Chase Calhoun is the head of the auto theft unit and says they arrested the teenager who stole Kris's car and that he was part of a group of teenagers stealing Kias and Hyundais.

“Sometimes these types of thefts are joyriding. These are juveniles who are stealing cars, going out and destroying property. They are wrecking the cars; they are crashing into things; they are destroying private property, residential structures, fences, things of that nature. Mailboxes,” said Calhoun.

Calhoun says their investigation identified several groups of teenagers stealing cars around the city, and they've arrested dozens of them.

“Kia and Hyundai have rolled out some preventive measures. There has been some updated security technology they've implemented that have helped curb the thefts. There's also other things like people buying anti-theft devices, steering wheel locking devices, things of that nature,” said Calhoun.

Police say that sometimes the teenagers are stealing these cars to commit other crimes. They say that several of the teenagers they've arrested also had guns.