HUBER HEIGHTS — The Huber Heights Police Department has launched a new community-wide crime-fighting program to try and stop a surge of car thefts.
Huber Heights Police have launched their own social media campaign, asking residents to get into a 9 p.m. routine. In a social media post, police urge everyone to lock their windows, garages, vehicles, and any other pieces of property to help make themselves a hard target.
Just a reminder about the 9pm Routine. Remove all valuables from your vehicles and lock your vehicles. Shut and lock all house doors, windows, and garage. Let’s all do our part to prevent crime. #9pmroutine
Posted by Huber Heights Police on Tuesday, May 9, 2023
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Alex Mann, of Huber Heights, told News Center 7′s Mike Campbell that she was shocked when she was told Monday morning that her car was not in her driveway. She immediately called the police and then realized she and her husband got an education about the viral Kia Challenge.
“I had no idea you could just start a car with an iPhone cord,” Mann said.
A neighbor’s doorbell camera caught teens first checking out Mann’s husband’s car before focusing on her Kia Sportage. Within seconds, they broke into her locked SUV and managed to start it before pulling it out of the driveway.
Huber Heights police chased Mann’s Kia around the area and found it crashed and badly damaged on railroad tracks in Moraine. They recovered one of her two children’s car seats and also discovered her car had been used as a getaway vehicle in other crimes.
A surveillance photo showed Mann’s SUV parked while another car attempted car theft unfolded. She told News Center 7 she felt bad that her car was used for that.
“It was devastating to find that out,” she said.
Mann, like many victims, is not pleased that social media platforms allowed videos to stay online, detailing the way to commit crimes.
“It makes me sad and angry. I don’t want people to know how to do that to someone else’s car,” she said.
Huber Heights Police are especially warning Kia and Hyundai owners, but are really urging everyone to get into the lock-up routine and watch their property, as well as their neighbors’ property.
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