DURHAM, NC—A family’s grief deepened when their silver Kia Soul was stolen from the Soho Apartment Homes off Chalk Level Road, taking with it cherished belongings of their late son, Chazz Beaver, a former Mount Jackson Police Department officer and volunteer firefighter who passed away suddenly in June.
Dacia, 23, discovered the theft early Thursday morning as her mother prepared for work. The family reported the incident to Durham police, who arrived at 8:42 a.m. and noted surveillance footage showing four individuals breaking into the vehicle at 12:07 a.m. and leaving by 12:09 a.m.
The stolen car bears a distinctive Dallas Cowboys sticker on the front. Inside were Beaver’s personal items, including a fishing pole, hunting equipment, and important documents. “Even though it’s just a few things, it’s still his stuff,” Dacia expressed. “It still means something to us.”
This incident reflects a troubling surge in vehicle-related crimes in Durham. As of December 7, the Durham Police Department reported 3,239 vehicle break-ins and 1,607 vehicle thefts for the year. Notably, motor vehicle thefts increased by 134.74% from 2022 to 2023, with 1,885 thefts reported in 2023 compared to 803 in 2022.
A viral TikTok challenge has exacerbated this issue, particularly targeting Kia and Hyundai models by exploiting vulnerabilities to start cars without keys. This trend has led to a significant rise in thefts nationwide, including in Durham.
In response, Kia and Hyundai have rolled out software updates to enhance security. The updates extend alarm sounds and require a key in the ignition to start vehicles, effectively reducing theft rates by over half. However, theft rates for these models remain higher than average, and vandalism incidents persist.
Durham police are actively investigating the theft of the Beaver family’s vehicle. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest, with callers able to remain anonymous.
For Dacia and her family, the loss transcends the vehicle itself. “Even though it’s just a few things, it’s still his stuff,” she said. “It still means something to us.”
Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
