ROCHESTER, NY — The city of Rochester says it will sue manufacturers Kia and Hyundai to hold the companies responsible for the cost associated with the increase in auto thefts.
Mayor Malik Evans announced Monday that the city has engaged outside legal counsel to file a lawsuit against Kia America and Hyundai Motor America. It comes as cities across the country, including Buffalo, Cleveland, San Diego and Seattle, have launched similar lawsuits.
Leaders across the country have raised alarms about an increase in car thefts due to videos circulating on TikTok showing people how to steal Kia and Hyundai models. Some of these stolen cars were used to deliberately destroy buildings during robberies. Last Thursday, a stolen Kia was found at the scene of a smash-and-grab accident at the Montague Music Hall.
In the first three months of 2023 alone, Rochester saw a 2,400% increase in thefts of Kyases and Hyundais. City says automakers failed to add anti-theft technology, so it’s easy to connect cars with just a USB cable, as can be seen in TikTok videos. lawsuit from Buffalo City claims the same thing.
As of Monday, there were about 1,230 car thefts in Rochester according to the RPD Open Data Portal. That’s more than all of last year, which ended with 1,135 car thefts.
City leaders speak April 24 about increased car thefts
The city says the cases against the automakers will be arranged in federal court in the Central District of California, where Kia and Hyundai are based in the US.
“The costs to the Rochester taxpayer are skyrocketing,” said Mayor Evans. “in law enforcement, property damage, reservation fee waiver, and public safety due to Kia and Hyundai’s decision not to install readily available anti-theft technology. These thefts negatively impact the quality of life of Rochester residents and the livelihoods of Rochester business owners.”
The city’s announcement comes less than a week after she drove a believed stolen Kia recklessly down the lawns and sidewalks of Franklin High School. Also, in late March, four businesses suffered damage in burglaries and burglaries on Dewey Avenue that included Kyas and Hyundais. At least one of those cars was determined to be stolen.
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