Rochester’s police chief says 403 Kias and 386 Hyundais have been stolen in the city so far this year, with only about 200 of other makes taken. More than a thousand have been stolen so far this year. Chief David Smith says 20 smash-and-grab robberies have taken place so far this year involving stolen cars. One juvenile has been arrested.
One stolen Kia was driven recklessly on the grounds of Franklin High School.
Sixty arrests have been made in the city, with about half of them being juveniles driving recklessly in stolen cars. More than a dozen have been re-arrested on the same charges.
Mayor Malik Evans said in a press conference Monday that just 32 Kias and Hyundais were stolen last year. The city is taking part in a multi-city lawsuit against both car makers for not equipping their vehicles with the latst anti-theft technology.
City Corporation Counsel Linda Kingsley says the law firm of Keller Rorbach was hired last week by the city to pursue its lawsuit against the auto makers. She says the suit will be filed in federal court this week. Buffalo, Cleaveland, Seattle, Cincinnati and a number of other cities are filing identical suits.
Other car makers have been installing engine immobilizers for decades, but only the higher-end Kias and Hyundais have that tech.