Author: ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Police Department is warning residents about a rise in car thefts.

Numerous instances of vehicle thefts have been reported recently in Arlington. It’s part of a nationwide trend, which ACPD attributes — at least in part — to “videos on how to steal certain makes and models… circulated widely on social media sites.”

The targeted vehicles are largely “Hyundai and Kia models made between 2011-2022 which do not have push-button starts and use a traditional turn-key ignition.”

Amid the rise in thefts, ACPD says officers arrested four D.C. and Maryland residents last month after they were seen standing around four stolen vehicles in the Virginia Highlands Park parking lot near Pentagon City. The four range in age from 18 to 20, and are now facing charges including Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Burglarious Tools, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Receiving Stolen Goods.

The aftermath of the arrests, which also followed a foot pursuit, was documented at the time on social media.

Not sure what is going on, but there is a major @ArlingtonVaPD presence at the @AuroraHighlands library parking lot area, near the soccer field at 15th + S. Hayes. @STATter911 @ARLnowDOTcom @WTOP @NationalLanding pic.twitter.com/m8768r5Iv7

— CartChaos22202 (@CartChaos22202) December 20, 2022

(1) @ArlingtonVaPD had a lot of action in Pentagon City yesterday. These were some of the people #police report they ran after when staking out multiple stolen cars in a parking lot. Arrests were made around 8:30 pm. (more) @CartChaos22202 pic.twitter.com/flld9i0uzZ

— Dave Statter (@STATter911) December 20, 2022

More below from an ACPD press release.

In December, officers arrested and charged four individuals after recovering stolen vehicles which had their steering columns damaged in order to bypass the ignition. These arrests follow a rise in vehicle thefts reported in communities across the country after videos on how to steal certain makes and models have circulated widely on social media sites. The Arlington County Police Department is sharing information regarding these thefts and steps motorists can take to help protect their property.

At approximately 7:29 p.m. on December 19, police received an alert for a stolen vehicle and located it parked and unoccupied in the 1600 block of S. Hayes Street. During the course of the investigation, officers determined three additional vehicles in the parking lot were also reported stolen. Officers approached a group as they returned to the vehicles and the group ran. A foot pursuit was initiated and officers detained six individuals. Based on the investigation, four of the individuals were arrested and charged. […]

(more…)

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