- Detectives followed a stolen Elantra that emerged from a garage with a stolen Sonata.
- Police say one driver rammed an occupied patrol vehicle during the stop.
- Investigators suspect links to nearly two dozen vehicle thefts around Nashville.
A stolen Hyundai pulling into a parking garage might give detectives a reason to stick around. Another stolen Hyundai emerging behind it certainly helps. Nashville police say that sequence unfolded recently before officers swooped in and arrested five people. Investigators suspect the group could be connected to a much larger string of thefts.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, detectives spotted an Elantra stolen hours earlier. It entered an 18th Avenue South garage, then departed with a Sonata following. The Sonata’s owner promptly reported it stolen. What the suspects didn’t realize was that a police helicopter was watching their every move.
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The aviation unit helped officers track both cars to West End Avenue. Police allege that 24-year-old Keylando M. Adams Jr. rammed an occupied police vehicle during the stop. Officers recovered three stolen firearms and key fobs associated with other stolen vehicles. The suspects include three juveniles and two adults, all facing charges. Investigators believe the group could be linked to nearly two dozen thefts, with further charges anticipated.
That’s quite the potential haul for what started out with just one confirmed vehicle theft. It also highlights just how good this police work was. Had the suspects realized that they were being chased or tracked, there’s a chance that they don’t end up back where police could put the rest of the pieces together.
Of course, all of this brings the brand’s well-documented security problems to mind. In February 2023, NHTSA announced that Hyundai and Kia had developed free theft-deterrent software for millions of vehicles lacking an engine immobilizer. The campaign covered approximately 3.8 million Hyundais and 4.5 million Kias. That all said, there’s no word on how the cars in this particular bust were stolen. For now, the more interesting question is how far this investigation reaches beyond the two recovered sedans.
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