January 11 2025

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PolicePIO@slc.gov

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SLCPD Officers Arrest Two Suspects Believed to Be Connected to Series of Kia, Hyundai Thefts

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) announced the arrest of two suspects believed to be connected to a series of thefts and attempted thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the SLCPD’s Crime Intel and Analysis Unit (CIAU) detected an increase in thefts and attempted thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, particularly in the Rose Park neighborhood.

As of Friday, January 10, 2025, the SLCPD’s CIAU has identified nearly 50 incidents of thefts and attempted thefts occurring throughout the city.

The thefts or attempted thefts are mostly occurring overnight, between 4 and 7 a.m.

The suspects are smashing in windows, damaging steering columns and ignitions, or stealing cars with the key fob left inside.

In response, the SLCPD began an intensive effort to identify and arrest the suspects.

Every division from the SLCPD contributed to this highly coordinated effort including patrol officers, school resource officers, patrol-based crash investigators, and detectives assigned to the SLCPD’s Auto Theft Unit, Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), Gang Unit, and Public Relations Unit. Additional support came from the SLCPD’s Police Community Response Team (PCRT) and Crime Lab and Evidence Unit.

“This case highlights the dedication and hard work of our entire police department,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “When people in our community cause harm and put others at risk, we will use every resource available to arrest them. These suspects have likely caused tens of thousands of dollars in damages and endangered countless lives by stealing vehicles and driving dangerously through our streets. Our officers and detectives deserve recognition for their efforts. While this is a significant achievement, there are still likely other suspects out there, and our work isn’t over.”

Around 1p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025, patrol officers were near 1700 West 400 North looking for stolen vehicles as part of their efforts to recover past stolen cars connected to this case and to increase their presence in areas where past car thefts occurred.

While patrolling, an officer saw a silver Hyundai with two people inside but lost sight of it before additional officers could arrive to conduct a traffic stop. The car came back as recently stolen.

A few minutes after the officer saw the stolen Hyundai, SLC911 received a call about a hit and run near 1780 West 400 North. Officers flooded the area and safely arrested two people a few blocks away that matched the description of the suspects in the car provided by neighbors.

Officers also found evidence that placed the two suspects in the stolen car.

Officers believe the driver lost control of the car and crash, causing non-life-threatening injuries.

As officers processed the scene, they learned the identity of the two suspects and that both were being sought by detectives.

Both suspects are under the age of 18 and no additional information about them can be released.

Officers booked the suspects into the Salt Lake County Juvenile Detention Center.

Detectives will work with prosecutors to determine how many cases the suspects are responsible for and to determine the appropriate charges.

Photos from Friday, January 10, 2025, are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Anyone with information on this or other cases, to include details about other suspects, is asked to call 801-799-3000.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The information contained in this news release is based on a preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department. As the investigation progresses, information may change.

Photo: Salt Lake City Police officers recover a stolen car that crashed near 1750 West 400 North (SLCPD photo – January 11, 2025).

Photo: Salt Lake City Police officers recover a stolen car that crashed near 1750 West 400 North (SLCPD photo – January 11, 2025).

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