Police say a 13-year old driver and 16-year old passenger led Georgia deputy in a high-speed chase after they allegedly used a viral method and stole a Hyundai Elantra with a USB cable.
The Atlanta police warn Hyundai and Kia car owners that car thefts are on the rise. Three thefts were reported by police in Atlanta this weekend.
The police have linked a sharp increase in car thefts with viral videos on social media. These videos teach people how to start cars using USB cables, and exploit a vulnerability in some Hyundai and Kia cars sold in the U.S. that lack engine immobilizers. This feature was standard in most cars from the 1990s and prevented the engine starting without the key.
Coweta County Sheriffs Office Deputies performed a maneuver in order to stop the Hyundai Elantra.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 report for an unrelated incident in which someone attempted to break into a car. They then tried to pull over a Hyundai Elantra, a white vehicle.
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The police learned later that the car had been stolen by two unusual suspects, a 13-year old and a 16 year-old.
The authorities said the 13-year old driver, who was not named, refused to stop and led deputies in a high-speed pursuit of up to 120 miles an hour. Police said that the inexperienced teenager almost hit the patrol car directly.
Body-camera footage shows the arrest of two teenagers who stole a Hyundai Elantra.
The dashcam footage shows deputies using a maneuver in the end to stop the car. Body camera footage showed deputies quickly pursuing the teens, and they were arrested.
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Both have been handed over to juvenile authorities. They face charges of car theft, fleeing with intent to elude and felony as well as breaking into cars.
General image of a Hyundai Elantra in white. Two teens stole a Hyundai Elantra white using a USB cable (Moscow Police Department).
Hyundai has warned that thefts of vehicles in the Atlanta area have become so prevalent that some owners are receiving letters from Hyundai warning them about the thefts.
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The company stated that free repairs were only available for certain Hyundai models. In the letter, the company stated that it would repair the car’s ignition logic and alarm as well as applying window stickers warning thieves of the increased security.
