crime

Gilbert Couple Sounds Alarm on Rising Car Thefts After Hyundai Swipe from Their Driveway

Published

1 day ago

04/14/2025

admin

Gilbert couple warns of recent car thefts after Hyundai stolen from driveway

GILBERT, Ariz. — A local couple is sounding the alarm after their car was stolen amid a worrying trend of thefts in their neighborhood. Charles and Allison Smith reported that their 2013 Hyundai Elantra was taken from their driveway near Higley Road and Loop 202 overnight.

“It’s almost like it’s not just a coincidence. You know they have a plan to do this. It’s really terrifying,” Allison Smith stated.

Following the incident, the couple filed a report with Gilbert police, who confirmed they are actively investigating the case.

The Smiths learned that the potential thief may have arrived in a different stolen vehicle. “There was a car that was left running,” Charles Smith explained. “The police officer then goes to investigate the car. He runs the plates on it, finds out it was stolen.”

About 48 hours later, their vehicle was recovered in a neighborhood less than five miles away, which had also experienced thefts. “They said our car was left outside running all day,” Allison Smith added.

Local residents reported similar incidents, with one neighbor notifying the Smiths, “Yeah, one of our cars was taken just around that time,” Charles recalled.

Upon recovery, the Smiths found their car badly damaged with the ignition lock cylinder completely removed. “They knew what to take, and they knew how to get into these cars,” Charles noted.

This incident reflects a broader pattern, as thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have surged recently. A social media trend has shown individuals how to start these vehicles without keys, leading to increased vulnerability.

Hyundai acknowledged that their cars without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices are particularly at risk. To combat the issue, the manufacturer has developed free anti-theft software updates.

The Smiths were unaware of this trend before their vehicle was stolen. Allison emphasized, “Take precautions and just know that there are people who are targeting these cars right now for whatever reason.”

Hyundai has provided a list of models affected by this issue that are eligible for the free software update, including: