CMPD: Kia challenge is declining, Infiniti thefts on the rise
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The Kia and Hyundai theft trend that has plagued Charlotte for years appears to be slowly dropping off — but another car is being targeted.
Why it matters: Car thefts were down locally by 8% in 2024 compared to the year prior, with auto thefts involving Kias and Hyundais falling 15%.
- CMPD reported 7,445 stolen cars in 2024, of which 4,557 were Hyundais and Kias.
- The department made 998 total arrests for vehicle thefts, including 694 juvenile auto theft arrests — an 18% decline from 2023.
Yes, but: Chief Johnny Jennings said at a business event last month that, "for some reason," CMPD is seeing a rise in Infinitis being stolen. He suspects it has to do with the technology.
- "Back in the day, you used to have to hot wire things," he said. "Now they're using USBs ... and everything else to steal a car."
- Jennings warns against leaving a car running in the driveway or keeping a spare key inside.
Catch up quick: A social media challenge in 2022 fueled a national trend of stealing Kia and Hyundai cars. TikTok users posted step-by-step instructions for stealing one of the cars with a USB cord.
- Certain models have serious design flaws, namely the lack of engine immobilizers, which prevent engines from starting without a key.
Zoom in: CMPD has made a targeted effort to stop the thefts. At a drive-thru event last February, the department partnered with Hyundai Motor America to offer software updates and free steering wheel locks. More than 670 car owners participated.
The big picture: Reducing the number of car thefts cuts down on Charlotte's overall crime rate since they've accounted for such a large portion of it.
- CMPD is reporting a 4% drop in property crime in 2024, largely due to the decrease in auto property crimes.
- Incidents of larceny from cars were down 10%, from 11,390 in 2023 to 10,271 in 2024.
- 1,101 guns were stolen during those instances, a drop of 9% from last year.
Go deeper: Is Charlotte becoming unsafe? We asked the top 3 local law enforcement officers