The Raleigh Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force has recovered 86 vehicles since June, property valued at $2.3 million

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — With car thefts increasing each year in Raleigh, police changed tactics over the summer to curb the problem, with the goal of also curbing more serious crimes related to car thefts.

“We know that these stolen cars are being used for other violent crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, shootings, armed robberies and not only that, but property crimes as well,” Raleigh Police Lt. John Black told ABC11.

The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) created the Auto Theft Task Force back in June, which is made up of officers from various teams and also works with other agencies to specifically focus on investigating stolen vehicles.

Previously, general detectives were assigned these cases in addition to anything else they were working on. Now the task force allows RPD members to spend their time specifically dealing with car thefts. Black leads the task force and said this new approach is leading to some successes.

Since June, the RPD Auto Theft Task Force has recovered 86 stolen vehicles, totaling approximately $2.3 million. There were 180 felony charges and 22 misdemeanor charges. This investigation also led to the arrest of 23 adults and 38 juveniles.

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“Teens are using a social media challenge, a TikTok challenge called ‘Kia Boys,’ which basically teaches them how to steal cars,” Black told ABC11.

Black said Kias and Hyundais are the most commonly stolen cars. He recommends that owners of these vehicle brands obtain a software update from their dealers that will make it more difficult for their cars to be stolen. These owners can also contact a Raleigh police department to request a steering wheel lock for free.

When it comes to preventing car theft, Black recommends getting some sort of GPS tracker for your car, like an AirTag, if your car doesn’t already have one. It can help you track your vehicle if it is ever stolen and help officers locate it more quickly.

The “9 p.m. routine” is also a crime prevention tactic that RPD recommends. This means choosing a time every night before you go to bed to double-check everything in your home. Black recommends removing all valuables from your cars, locking your doors, turning on the lights on your porch and making sure your security cameras are set to detect movement outside.

If your car is stolen, Black recommends calling 911. The sooner officers know that your car has been stolen, the sooner they can be on patrol looking for your vehicle. Because stolen vehicles can be used to commit other crimes, notifying RPD of your stolen car more quickly can also help prevent future crimes.

To learn more about RPD’s crime prevention recommendations, click here.