ATLANTA — As this year winds down, there will be some good news: Atlanta Police data shows almost all categories of crime have dropped in the city since last year – including violent crimes like murder and aggravated assault.
But there’s one notable exception. The category of motor vehicle theft has soared by 64% in the last year in Atlanta. At the same time,
- Homicide has dropped 19%
- Rape has dropped 50%
- Aggravated assault has dropped 17%
- Robbery has dropped 17%
The data shows only shoplifting has risen by 30%, along with the 64% spike in auto thefts.
RELATED: Police, manufacturers give Atlanta Kia and Hyundai owners relief after recent rise in car thefts
Jacqueline McDaniel knows firsthand. She was at an impound lot Tuesday, trying to get back her twice-stolen 2014 Kia Optima.
"Within three weeks, it got stolen out of my driveway twice," she told 11Alive. "I saw it stolen when I came home from the hospital."
She blames TikTok videos that show step-by-step how to bypass the ignition locks on Kias and Hyundais.
"All you need is a plier. You turn it over it’ll crank right up," she said.
Earlier this year, Atlanta Police gave away steering wheel locks to the owners of Kias and Hyundais, who wanted them, in response to the online how-to guides to auto theft.
But auto thieves are also targeting higher-end cars – sometimes making counterfeit electronic key fobs and even counterfeit ownership documents, said Robi Hilliard Herron, who helps run a northeast Atlanta impound lot called Futo's.
"They use fobs and charges for iPhones to unlock some cars," she said. "They can change them on the spot. They’re clever."
Meantime, car theft victims have to deal with the trauma and the cost.
"I have to pay to get my car out of the impound because of somebody else taking my property," McDaniel said.
"I’m getting rid of that car. I don’t want another Kia or Hyundai. They can have it," Herron said.