Joint State, Regional Police Task Force Targets Kia Boyz, Auto Thefts

NEW HAVEN, CT —Friday, Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Karl Jacobson, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman joined with other mayors, first selectpersons, and police chiefs from neighboring municipalities to announce the creation of a new joint regional task force dedicated to address auto theft.

New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said that despite car thefts being down 15 percent since last year, there have been 884 cars stolen in New Haven, with 37% Kias or Hyundais. And, there have been some 121 juveniles arrested in the city "for stolen cars."

According to officials, both locally and nationally, the theft of automobiles – in particular, Kias and Hyundais – and the dangerous driving of these stolen vehicles by groups of juveniles and young adults known as the Kia Boyz has posed significant safety risks to residents, property, and the motorists themselves.

"To more effectively combat this issue, municipal leaders from Ansonia, East Haven, Hamden, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven, Woodbridge, and the Connecticut State Police have agreed to establish a new Joint Regional Task Force on Auto Theft, assigning dedicated law enforcement personnel to participate in regular meetings, share information and intelligence, coordinate joint operations to enforce related local and state laws, identify and apprehend those engaging in these illegal activities, and connect juveniles to services and supports to help redirect them from this behavior," a release from Elicker's office.

Elicker full statement:

Both locally and nationally, the theft of automobiles and the dangerous driving of these stolen vehicles – in particular, Kias and Hyundais – has posed significant safety risks to residents, property, and the motorists themselves. To more effectively combat this issue, New Haven has joined with other municipalities in New Haven County and the Connecticut State Police to create a new Joint Regional Task Force on Auto Theft.

With this task force, each city and town will assign dedicated law enforcement personnel to participate in regular meetings, share information and intelligence, coordinate joint operations to enforce related local and state laws, identify and apprehend those engaging in these illegal activities, and connect juveniles to services and supports to help redirect them from this behavior. In the few weeks since it’s been launched, the task force has already recovered 9 stolen cars, made 14 arrests and seized 3 illegal firearms.

In New Haven, we’ve also increased the size of our motor vehicle unit, deployed more advanced technology, and continue to encourage residents to take proper precautions – lock your car doors, remove valuables from your vehicles, don’t leave vehicles running unattended and, if you own a Kia or Hyundai, make sure you have the anti-theft software update and/or a wheel lock.

While we’re moving in the right direction and auto thefts have declined by 15% since this time last year, we still have a lot more work to do – and, by working collaboratively, we’re poised to make further progress.