A woman claims that her car was taken from her Humboldt Park home and that the criminals may have used a strategy that has been well-known on social media in recent months as thefts have increased dramatically in Chicago.
The victim claims that his car was taken from his residence, which is located close to the intersection of North Avenue and Central Park, and drove four miles before colliding with two parked vehicles close to the intersection of Spaulding and Grace in Irving Park.
“I can’t even get close to it.” “They must take fingerprints,” Maritza says. “There’s stolen goods inside… I’m not even sure if it can be driven. According to neighbors, authorities appear to have caught one of the robbers. “They were screaming, ‘Keep your hands up! Never move! a neighbor told.
The fact that Maritza’s Hyundai was taken without the keys, in her opinion, is what makes the situation particularly disturbing. She said, “We didn’t see or hear anything.” Theft is comparable to a crime that has spread across the country, with thieves preying on older Hyundai and Kia models.
TikTok users shared ‘how-to’ videos exposing a security flaw in Hyundai models manufactured between 2013 and 2021, and Kia models manufactured between 2011 and 2021, resulting in the ‘Kia Hyundai Challenge.’ A crime wave targeting unsuspecting drivers across the country has now hit many communities in Chicago in a big way.
The flaw is the absence of a device known as a “standard immobilizer,” which prevents a car from starting with the key present. According to the companies, the devices are now standard on vehicles, but a potential software patch to fix the problem is not yet widely available.
According to Chicago police records, 46 thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles occurred in May, but that number increased to 676 in August alone, accounting for one-third of all reported car thefts in the city.
Authorities recently issued a community alert regarding a series of thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the Grand Crossing area, with at least six reported between October 17 and 21 at various locations.
It is unknown whether the thefts are connected to the Humboldt Park incident. Police advise drivers to never leave their vehicles unattended or with keys inside and to use anti-theft devices whenever possible.
