Global Courant 2023-04-27 20:23:33
Democrats have found a new culprit responsible for the skyrocketing auto thefts under their belt: auto companies.
Several Democratic politicians have ignored criminals and reprimanded manufacturers for increasing car thefts, signaling a blueprint that can be continued in other areas in efforts to deflect criticism of themselves and their policies.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has pointed the finger at Kia and Hyundai for a spate of auto thefts, going so far as to launch an investigation into the manufacturers whether they have “industry-standard, anti-theft technology” on some of their cars. had left out. .
“Kia and Hyundai cars might as well have a giant bumper sticker that says ‘steal me,'” Ellison said in early March.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has blamed Kia and Hyundai for the rising number of auto thefts. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
In Minneapolis, Kia, and Hyundai, car thefts are up nearly 840% by 2022. Washington Times reported. In St. Paul, thefts are up more than 600% over the previous year.
The Times noted that the stolen vehicles were sometimes involved in other crimes, including five murders, more than a dozen shootings, 36 robberies and 265 car accidents.
California politicians have also targeted automakers, particularly Kia, Hyundai and Toyota. The Golden State has one of the highest auto theft rates in the country.
Democratic Republic of California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other Attorneys General sent a letter to Kia and Hyundai blaming them for failing to install “anti-theft immobilizers”, the Washington free beacon reported.
“There have been alarmingly high rates of theft from these vehicles over a long period of time,” the coalition wrote in the letter. “Your consumers continue to suffer as a result, and worse, the thefts contribute to an erosion of public safety as they often involve reckless driving and the commission of other crimes, further endangering our communities.”
“While your companies have reportedly taken some steps to address this crisis, it has not been enough and it has not been done quickly enough,” they added.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta and others have also pointed the finger at automakers. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
“Your companies’ decisions not to install anti-theft immobilizers as standard equipment on certain vehicles sold in the United States have resulted in continued consumer harm and undermined public safety in communities across the country,” they said. . “It’s been a long time since you recognized your company’s role and took swift and comprehensive action to remedy it.”
Numerous thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles occurred as a result of videos shared on social media platforms such as TikTok. These videos showed how to start specific models without an immobilizer by using the end of a USB cable to turn on the ignition. Young people often stole the cars and took them on joyrides.
Bonta and 17 attorneys general this week sent a letter to the federal government urging the recall of millions of vehicles.
Also in California, Nithya Raman, Los Angeles Democratic Councilwoman, suggested that manufacturers should take responsibility for producing easily stolen parts, according to National review.
“In this case, I think one of the things that infuriates me is that we have a company – whatever, Toyota – that makes the Prius, which essentially has a device on their cars that is super easy to remove. It is actually worth a MacBook, right?” said Raman recently.
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“That’s placed in a place in your car that’s incredibly easy to access and the thefts associated with this issue are essentially — all the costs of that — being given to us to bear rather than them (Toyota) having to buy a car that’s actually not that easy to steal,” she added.
The number of car thefts nationwide surpassed 1 million last year for the first time in 14 years, a 7% increase from 2021.
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“We are seeing auto theft rates that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years, and there is little deterrent to deter criminals from committing these acts as they are simply property crimes, such as shoplifting,” said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
“We need to reinvest in local law enforcement, provide necessary resources for prosecution and community policing programs, and implement early intervention programs given the high incidence of juvenile offenders involved in vehicle thefts,” Glawe added.
The offices of Ellison, Bonta and Raman did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Gary Gastelu contributed reporting.
Joe Schoffstall is a political producer/reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @joeschoffstall
