Atlanta

Doorbell camera catches suspects breaking into, stealing neighbor’s vehicle, Atlanta police say

By Courtney Francisco, WSB-TV
By Courtney Francisco, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — A car theft caught on camera shows what it took for thieves to steal a Hyundai in Southeast Atlanta.

It is one of the most common type of vehicles stolen in the metro, according to police. Detectives say certain models of Kia’s and Hyundai are easily hotwired with tools as common as a screwdriver and USB cable.

However, in the past three weeks, the auto makers have released software to fix the problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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One of the latest thefts was of a Hyundai in Southeast Atlanta on Commonwealth Avenue. Two people are caught on surveillance camera breaking out the back window of the car. Then, they leave.

“I think they thought they heard something, and they went away, and they came back and finished the job,” said Van Jackson.

Jackson’s surveillance video recorded the theft. When the pair returned, you see one in an orange hoodie climb in the broken back window. The one wearing a black hoodie hands the person inside some items, possibly tools to hotwire, eventually climbs inside and they take off.

“I think they were lucky because it was raining. It was raining bad that day. Usually, there is a lot of people out walking their dogs and what not,” said Jackson. “But it was bold. It was bold; 4:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. I think that is crazy.”

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Police crime mapping data on Commonwealth Avenue Southeast and surrounding streets shows the townhome subdivision has kept crime out this year until Friday’s theft.

“We roughly have had about six to 700 Kia and Hyundai’s stolen in our city, which accounts for about 40 percent of our numbers,” Lt. Justin Strom of the Atlanta Police Department said.

Jackson said the car belongs to his neighbor’s daughter. We are waiting to hear back from the owner to find out if the vehicle needed a software update designed to help deter theft. The neighbor said the car did have a GPS tracking device on it.

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We are waiting to hear back from Atlanta Police to find out if detectives have recovered.

“We are work hard for our things and for someone to come and just steal it and not care it is a sad part of our world,” Jackson said.

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