A woman is drawing the attention of internet users after reporting that she managed to find her newly stolen car after searching around her own neighborhood.
Kaytlin Jarrell posted a video on TikTok to report what happened. She began by saying that her Kia Optima had disappeared from the driveway and that her neighborhood had been facing similar incidents, with several neighbors reporting similar thefts.
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“They literally just arrested three people who were breaking into cars around here. And today my car is gone,” Kaytlin said in the clip. So, she decided to take her dad’s Mazda and go after her missing Kia.
She said she had not driven her father’s car for more than a few minutes when she came across her stolen Kia, parked just a few minutes from home. Apparently, the thieves did not bother to go very far.
“I found my car and they are stupid,” she stated in the recording. Kaytlin then called the police and waited, saying she would do everything she could to make sure the thieves were held accountable.
When the officers arrived, she asked how the theft was even possible, considering she had the keys and that the car has a system that automatically locks the doors, even if she forgets to press the remote button.
According to the police, older Kia models have been targeted by thieves precisely because they do not have good anti-theft features. They said thieves can start the cars using simple USB cables.
Because of this, Kia thefts in the United States have practically become a “trend.” In response, Kia began offering a free software upgrade through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which prevents the car from starting if the key is not nearby.
Still, some owners say their vehicles continue to be targeted. Now, law enforcement is recommending that drivers add traditional layers of protection, such as steering wheel locks, for greater peace of mind.
Photo and video: TikTok @kaytlinjarrell21. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
