Incident at Charlotte Premium Outlets highlights rising number of auto thefts

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Division is constant its seek for a person accused of attempting to steal one other man’s automobile, fireplace a gun, after which pistol-whip him on the Charlotte Premium Retailers.

Channel 9 introduced you the story as breaking information on Friday night time, however the incident covers a a lot greater challenge that’s plaguing the Queen Metropolis: auto theft.

Whereas numbers are on the rise for stolen vehicles, many individuals don’t give it some thought till they grow to be victims themselves. Channel 9 veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts was capable of meet up with different consumers who stated Friday night time’s incident was a wake-up name.

“Oh man, it’s loopy; it looks as if that occurs loads right here in Charlotte,” James McGriff, a client, stated.

The variety of auto thefts is rising throughout town, however CMPD says the incident on the premium shops was the primary theft prior to now 12 months.

ALSO READ: Inside Operation SCARLET, CMPD’s process drive to cease high-end automobile theft

Officers say a struggle broke out after a client caught a person in his automobile attempting to take it. Throughout the struggle, the suspect fired a shot that he fortunately missed. McGriff instructed Counts that he utterly understands the sufferer’s response on this scenario.

“Your first intuition is, I imply, that’s your possession, so it’s a must to shield it. I imply, there isn’t any telling how exhausting that man labored for his automobile,” McGriff stated.

Present Charlotte crime statistics present a big enhance in stolen vehicles. In 2022, there have been 2,594 auto thefts; this 12 months, there have been 5,824. A big chunk of the upper quantity is as a result of Kia-Hyundai problem, which triggered automobile thefts to leap by 843%.

A client, who didn’t wish to present her face on digital camera, instructed Counts she believes something can occur. Whereas she has a hid carry license, she says if she had been in the identical place, she’d almost definitely name the police and never attain for her gun.

“I might not have accomplished that in that scenario, merely since you don’t know what the opposite individual has; if I’m threatened, then I’ll do what I’ve to do, however in that exact scenario, I in all probability would have simply known as the cops.”

Police advise native drivers to get a steering wheel lock and park in a well-lit space.

(WATCH BELOW: Particular person pistol-whipped in car parking zone of Charlotte Premium Retailers)