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Local Hyundai dealership sees increase in repairs because of car thefts

CHARLOTTE — A local Hyundai dealership says it’s getting swamped with customers who have been targeted by thieves.

For months, Channel 9 has been reporting on the fallout from a TikTok trend that showed how easily some models could be stolen.

“We could be seeing anywhere between two to five customers a day with broken windows out, busted ignitions,” said Shey Oda with South Charlotte Hyundai.

Aiesha Desarme is one of the latest victims of attempted car theft. She lives at the Stoneridge Apartments in southwest Charlotte. On Tuesday morning she got an unpleasant surprise.

“I walked to my car and there was, unfortunately, a screwdriver on the ground and broken glass on the outside and the inside of my vehicle,” Desarme said. “I was really angry and really frustrated.”

Desearma drives a Hyundai that’s electronically activated and says because of the built-in software thieves wouldn’t have gotten far.

“To break in and to think that you’re going to take it was just a null and void situation. You’re not going to move it,” she said.

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Car dealerships are seeing the impact of this ongoing crime.

Oda says customers are coming in every day, and the cost of the repairs are not cheap.

He said he’s seen repairs cost anywhere from $2,000 all the way up to $5,000.

According to the dealership, Hyundai issued a recall to update anti-theft systems and they are actively working on those fixes. But they are also seeing another trend: Once the owners make the necessary repairs, they often come back to trade for a newer model that has more security features and can’t be stolen as easily.

“It was an inconvenience of my time, inconvenience of my money (and) obviously my property,” Desearma said.

“For the people committing this act, I really, really just encourage that they cease.”

(VIDEO: Increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts could drive up insurance costs for all drivers)

Almiya White

Almiya White, wsoctv.com

Almiya White is a reporter for WSOC-TV