A dramatic increase in Kia and Hyundai vehicles being stolen in North Carolina as a result of a viral video online has caused a backlog of parts, Spectrum News 1 reports.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have reported thefts doubling in Charlotte during the first part of 2023, with thefts in Raleigh increasing by 54% from five years ago, according to the state’s attorney general’s office.
Most vehicles being stolen are Kias and Hyundais as a result of a video showing how to break into those two makes going viral online. Many vehicles are being found within days, but typically with damage such as smashed windows, broken ignitions and paint damage.
The phenomenon has resulted in Kia and Hyundai replacement parts being put on backlog. According to a Kia spokesperson, many of the vehicles being damaged have been out of production for years and need parts that “had very little demand” prior to the increase in thefts.
Kia Head of Corporate Communications James Bell said the company has taken measures to increase safety in response to the thefts, such as making victims of thefts top priority in part distribution and working directly with suppliers to “facilitate the necessary flow of parts most-needed.”
