Kia, Hyundai owners targeted by string of car break-ins
The following incidents were taken from the City of Charleston Police Department’s crime reports within Team 5, which covers Daniel Island, Clements Ferry Road, and parts of Cainhoy, between Nov. 1-14.
HIT-AND-RUN COLLISION
On Nov. 4, an officer was called to the I-526 Exit 23 ramp in reference to a hit-and-run collision. The victim advised that she was traveling east from Clements Ferry Road. On the entrance ramp to I-526, police said a driver of a white SUV made an improper lane change and sideswiped the victim’s vehicle, causing $5,000 worth of damage. The offender left the scene of the accident. No injuries were reported.
IDENTITY THEFT
A complainant contacted Team 5 on Nov. 4 to report an incident of identity theft. In August, she had been contacted by a big box retail store via email about an account that had been opened using her name, email, and date of birth. A store credit card had also been initiated using the same information. The account was opened in her name but to an address in Grand Prairie, Texas. Later, a charge was made on the credit card in the amount of $115. The victim has alerted the store about the fraudulent activity and is working with an identity theft protection company to resolve the issue.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
On Nov. 6, an officer was traveling east on I-526 to Exit 24 and noticed a vehicle traveling 10 mph on Fairchild Street. The driver swerved in and out of lanes and then came to a complete stop at a green traffic signal. Police signaled the driver to pull over. The driver pulled the front half of the vehicle up onto the curb. The offender was identified by driver’s license but was unable to locate his registration or insurance. After failing standardized field sobriety tests, the officer placed the individual under arrest, and the vehicle was towed.
DRUG/NARCOTICS VIOLATION
While patrolling Clements Ferry and Jack Primus Roads, an officer took note of a vehicle with a non-functioning brake light. A traffic stop was initiated, and the officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a search, 380 grams of marijuana, 0.7 grams of cocaine, a half-empty bottle of tequila, and a scale were found in the vehicle. On Nov. 7, the driver was arrested for possession of cocaine and given a warning for equipment violation. The passenger was arrested for possession with intent to distribute after admitting the marijuana belonged to him.
ATTEMPTED MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS
On Nov. 8, an officer responded to an apartment complex on Seven Farms Drive in reference to multiple car break-ins that occurred during the overnight hours. The first victim stated that he parked his locked Kia and found it the next day with broken glass inside and outside of the vehicle, and the steering column and ignition were ripped out of the vehicle. A pair of earbuds were removed.
A second vehicle, a Hyundai, had been vandalized on the same day with the back passenger window broken out and the bottom of the steering column, along with the ignition, removed.
Another victim was the driver of a Kia parked in the same lot, with the back passenger window broken and the bottom of the steering column ripped out with the ignition.
On Schooner Street, also on Nov. 8, officers observed a Kia with the passenger-side rear window broken, parked along the curb. The vehicle was running with the steering column damaged and no key present. The owner of the vehicle advised that he was still in possession of both of his keys.