HAMLET — Police are investigating a recent rash of vehicle thefts — all of the same model.
Maj. Hudson Chitwood of the Hamlet Police Department confirmed that three Kias were stolen from residence on the southern end of town last week, adding there were also two attempted thefts.
Those that were stolen were left not from where they were taken, leaving police to believe the crimes are being perpetrated by teens. Investigators also believe the suspected car thieves are local.
Police were reviewing surveillance video on Monday and the cases are still under investigation.
Multiple media outlets have been reporting on the uptick in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles over the past two years, laying the blame on a social media challenge.
According to Car & Driver, videos showing how easy it is to steal those makes — with a USB cord — have been circulating on TikTok since 2021.
WBTV reported in June 2023 that thefts of those specific makes were up 2,000% from the year before in the Charlotte area, accounting for 60% of all vehicles stolen.
There have been similar thefts reported across North Carolina, including Spring Lake and Fayetteville in Cumberland County, and the nation.
No recent Kia thefts have been reported to the Rockingham Police Department or Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
In May 2023, the manufacturers announced a settlement in a class-action lawsuit with owners of certain models that are susceptible to theft. The settlement will cover “provide cash compensation for customers who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage not covered by insurance, in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft-related losses.”
“This agreement is the latest step in a series of important actions, in addition to providing a free security software upgrade and distributing over 65,000 steering wheel locks, that Kia has taken to help customers whose vehicles have been targeted by criminals using methods of theft popularized on social media,” John Yoon, chief legal officer, Kia America, Inc., said in a press release. “Kia remains committed to assisting our customers and upholding vehicle security.”
Settlement notices to theft victims were slated to go out earlier this month, according to USA Today.
