A Georgia man has been arrested for allegedly stealing the blue Dodge Challenger used to help four inmates escape from a Bibb County jail.
Jakaylen Williams, 24, was in possession of the vehicle when police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/4-escaped-inmates-from-georgia-remain-at-large-getaway-car-recovered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found it</a> on Friday, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=727649716057685&amp;set=a.230242405798421" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook post</a>. He has been charged with four counts of aiding or permitting another to escape lawful custody or confinement, theft by receiving stolen property, and a probation violation. He was also arrested on warrants for aggravated assault, criminal trespass, and battery family violence in an unrelated case.
Williams is currently being held without bond for the current charges. He allegedly stole the vehicle from an Enterprise rental car business, The Macon Telegraph <a href="https://www.macon.com/news/local/crime/article280933383.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Another man, Christian Demond Williams (no relation), died Tuesday morning at a hospital in Macon, Georgia, hospital after shooting himself when U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrived at an apartment in Macon to question him about the four escaped inmates, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-jail-escapees-investigation-man-dies-c9ad785d905a4dc7ec6c1e0b0f775d0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, citing Bibb County authorities.
Investigators had received a tip that Christian had information about the escapees, and when they arrived at the apartment, a bullet fired through the door of the apartment, according to law enforcement. A SWAT team was called, and a woman inside the apartment told officers that Christian had shot himself, and showed authorities where he was. Christian was wounded, but still alive, and was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died.
No officers fired their guns, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis told reporters. Christian’s death was ruled a suicide.
Christian turned out to be a fugitive suspected of murder, and had been missing since March 5, the night before he was supposed to be tried for murder. Christian was accused of shooting to death a man at a convenience store in 2021.
The four inmates Christian was to be questioned about broke out of the Bibb County Detention Center on the morning of October 16 through a damaged day room window and a cut fence, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BibbCountySheriffsOffice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Facebook post</a> at the time. The escape occurred around 3:00 a.m., with a blue Dodge Challenger pulling up outside the jail and transporting the inmates away.
That Dodge Challenger was recovered on Friday, the Sheriff’s office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=725156426307014&amp;set=pb.100064379902001.-2207520000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. The vehicle was located in the parking lot of a Biomat USA – a facility that collects blood plasma donations. The building is less than two miles from the jail.
Sheriff Davis said in the post that he “appreciates the tips and every lead that we have received is being followed up on.”
The escaped inmates <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/4-inmates-including-a-suspected-murderer-escape-from-georgia-jail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a> 52-year-old Joey Fournier, a white male with gray hair and blue eyes who was being held at the detention center for alleged murder. The other three inmates are 24-year-old Marc Kerry Anderson, a black man being held for aggravated assault; 37-year-old Johnifer Dernard Barnwell, a black man being detained for the United States Marshals; and 29-year-old Chavis Demaryo Stokes, a black man being held for possession of a firearm and drug trafficking.
The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the possible location of these inmates to call the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the United States Marshal Service at 1-877-WANTED2. Tips may also be submitted online at <a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home?fbclid=IwAR0K4gMFMVSnS7OmZ-nGCQAsFw17gz6JmE-dxSZItFyZxag1ITWuJhj6YBo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tips.fbi.gov</a> or through the USMS Tips app.

Blue Dodge Challenger

Georgia Man Arrested For Allegedly Stealing Car Used To Help Four Inmates Escape

Car Theft

Crime

Georgia

U.S.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was reportedly carjacked at gunpoint in Washington, D.C., on Monday night.
White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reported that Cuellar was &#8220;was carjacked at gunpoint tonight outside his apartment building in DC, multiple sources confirm to me.&#8221;
The congressman, whose district is on the U.S. southern border, is reportedly safe. Cuellar&#8217;s car was reportedly recovered roughly an hour later. 
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NEWS: Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was carjacked at gunpoint tonight outside his apartment building in DC, multiple sources confirm to me. And Cuellar is safe they say
&mdash; Laura Barrón-López (@lbarronlopez) <a href="https://twitter.com/lbarronlopez/status/1709033713126735942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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An alert that was sent out in the area said that the suspects were three black males.
“Alert: Armed Carjacking Investigation at the intersection of K street and New Jersey Avenue SE,” a local alert said, according to Punchbowl News. “Taken was a white Honda CHR with TX tags [redacted]. Lookout for three black males wearing all black clothing.”
An alert sent to congressional members <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/congressman-henry-cuellar-carjacked-gunpoint-washington-sources/story?id=103676681">said</a> that the men held guns to Cuellar&#8217;s head and also took his cellphone.
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Here’s neighborhood alert that went out: <a href="https://t.co/99Euxaq6Q8">https://t.co/99Euxaq6Q8</a> <a href="https://t.co/32BUr2woYs">pic.twitter.com/32BUr2woYs</a>
&mdash; Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) <a href="https://twitter.com/heatherscope/status/1709033084350300346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) was assaulted in an elevator at her Washington, D.C., apartment building back in February.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-release-photo-of-suspect-in-assault-of-house-democrat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> a couple of days later that they had arrested 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin on a charge of simple assault.
“My morning coffee really saved the day yesterday, but not exactly how I expected it to,” Craig said. “On a serious note, I will also say that I was very, very lucky that I was not more injured — and I’ll have more to say about that soon.”
“I wanted to let everyone know that the outpouring of support from friends, constituents and colleagues has been overwhelming,” she continued. “I remain deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers for their quick response and subsequent arrest of a suspect last night.”
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

Henry Cuellar

Democrat Congressman Carjacked At Gunpoint In Washington, D.C.

carjacking

Congress

Here’s a truly dumb take, courtesy of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/opinion/kia-hyundai-tiktok.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>: “Kia and Hyundai Helped Enable a Crime Wave. They Should Pay for It.”
Wait, you ask: Are Kia and Hyundai hiring gangs of criminals to steal each other&#8217;s vehicles? Not exactly. Apparently, they just didn&#8217;t take enough precautions to prevent people from stealing their vehicles.
I&#8217;m not kidding.
According to the Council on Criminal Justice, the number of vehicle thefts during the first half of 2023 was 33.5% higher on average than during the same period in 2022. As data from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New Orleans, Buffalo and Durham, North Carolina showed, motor vehicle thefts have more than doubled this year relative to last year, according to statistics.
Why are so many cars getting stolen? Apparently it’s the fault of the car. The car wanted it. It needed to be stolen. That&#8217;s the way this works. It&#8217;s not the criminal — the car was just sitting there — and the criminal was not a criminal. It was just someone like you walking down the street like a normal human, never having stolen a car in your life, and there you saw it in the pure summer sunshine, a Kia. And you say to yourself, “Let&#8217;s do this thing. The time has come. That is the easiest car to steal.”
So, drawn like a moth to the flame, you walked over to the Kia and you said, “That might not be a very nice car, I wasn&#8217;t desperate for any of Kia&#8217;s brands, but now that I see it gleaming in the summer sunshine and I know it&#8217;s super easy to steal, I — a lifelong law-abiding citizen — have decided to steal the Kia.”
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-ben-shapiro-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h4>
This is the stupidest thing I&#8217;ve ever heard. Try this: There was a knife. It was sitting there in plain sight, and you were just drawn to it. You couldn&#8217;t stop yourself, so you stabbed your friend in the eyeball. You should probably sue the knife manufacturer.
Apparently, Hyundai and Kia did not equip some of their cars with electronic immobilizer devices that prevent cars from starting unless they detect a radio I.D. code associated with the car&#8217;s rightful key. A couple of years ago, videos showing how to hotwire the vulnerable cars began to pop-up online.
Hundreds of the stolen cars have been involved in numerous deadly crashes, armed robbery sprees, and other crimes around the country.
But the thieves are not to blame for this. It was the car’s fault. I simply can&#8217;t believe they programmed these cars to perform armed robbery. Did you know that if you create a product that when it&#8217;s stolen, it&#8217;s your fault? 
This is how dumb we&#8217;ve become. How about some basic level of personal responsibility? Ah, but that might require more police, more active policing, more throwing criminals in jail and leaving them in jail.
This is truly basic stuff, but not to those morons at The New York Times.
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2 Ben Shapiro Editorial Series 04 copy

Thieves Steal Cars, Then Commit Armed Robberies, Yet It’s The Car’s Fault?

Automobiles

Ben Shapiro

Cars

Chicago

Hyundai

Philadelphia

Readers Pass

The leftist mayor of Chicago, jumping on the bandwagon a little late, is blaming automakers for car theft in Chicago, filing suit against Hyundai and Kia and accusing them of fostering a &#8220;steep rise&#8221; in crime.
Last week, United States District Judge James V. Selna, ruling in a class action suit brought against Kia and Hyundai that accused them of failing to equip certain models with an engine immobilizer, denied the parties’ request for <a href="https://www.classaction.org/blog/from-talks-to-checks-the-stages-of-a-class-action-settlement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preliminary approval</a> of a $145 million settlement reached only days before. He directed the parties to change the agreement to “fashion a matrix for reimbursement that aligns with each Class Member&#8217;s vehicle’s estimated value, rather than taking an average of all vehicles and reducing it by 40%.” He told the parties involved to demonstrate how the technology works, its pitfalls and possible solutions.
Now Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city are filing suit against Kia and Hyundai, claiming they did not include &#8220;industry-standard engine immobilizers&#8221; in some of their cars, prompting a &#8220;steep rise&#8221; in crime.
“The impact of car theft on Chicago residents can be deeply destabilizing, particularly for low- to middle-income workers who have fewer options for getting to work and taking care of their families,” Johnson declared. “The failure of Kia and Hyundai to install basic auto-theft prevention technology in these models is sheer negligence, and as a result, a citywide and nationwide crime spree around automobile theft has been unfolding right before our eyes.”
&#8220;Because these vehicles are entry-level models, Kia’s and Hyundai’s failure to include engine immobilizers disproportionately impacts low-income Chicago residents. Moreover, offenders have used stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles to commit other crimes, including reckless driving, armed robbery, and murder,&#8221; Johnson’s office added.
“In 2023, thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars compromise over half of all Chicago car thefts in 2023,” Fox News <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-sues-automakers-car-theft-crisis-gets-worse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.
A spokesperson for Hyundai stated, &#8220;Hyundai is committed to the comprehensive actions we are undertaking to assist customers and communities affected by the persistent theft of certain vehicles not equipped with push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers.  Our dealers across the country are maximizing the number of anti-theft software installations that can be performed on a daily basis, contributing to steadily increasing completion rates, which we report to NHTSA weekly.&#8221;

2023 Lollapalooza Festival

Leftist Chicago Mayor Blames Automakers For Rise In Car Theft, Files Lawsuit

Auto Companies

Brandon Johnson

Lawsuit

Federal and State authorities have arrested a prolific <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/car-thefts-in-america-reach-highest-level-in-over-a-decade-analysis-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">car theft</a> gang in Massachusetts.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced the arrests on Wednesday. Seven individuals were arrested for allegedly stealing the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/milwaukee-has-a-car-theft-epidemic-the-city-is-suing-car-makers-claiming-their-cars-are-too-easy-to-steal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">catalytic converters</a> from some 470 cars between 2022 and 2023. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office, the thieves were extremely skilled and were able to extract the part from the cars in less than a minute in most cases.
“The members of this criminal network arrested today, under the cloak of darkness, traveled throughout our state cutting valuable catalytic converters from vehicles owned by unsuspecting citizens and businesses,&#8221; Massachusetts State Police Interim Col. John Mawn Jr. said in a statement via the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/04/13/massachusetts-men-with-speed-of-nascar-pit-crew-allegedly-stole-470-catalytic-converters-worth-2-million/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. &#8220;Their criminal acts violated the security and rights of vehicle owners, necessitated costly repairs, and interfered with commercial operations of business owners and the daily lives of numerous victims.”
According to the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/seven-arrested-stealing-catalytic-converters-over-470-vehicles-and-targeting-atms-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>, law enforcement officials from Massachusetts and New Hampshire identified a maroon Acura SUV which was involved in several catalytic converter thefts. Authorities also identified at least two suspects. The suspects targeted residential and commercial vehicles; the thieves were skilled, and using jacks and power tools, were able to cut away the part from the underside of a car. They then placed the parts in the back of the Acura and moved on.
The thieves were reportedly able to make off with the catalytic converters within a minute in most cases. At a <a href="https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/7-mass-men-accused-stealing-2m-catalytic-converters-vehicles-across-new-england/VSHYGKQC4ZCTHMI75AMO6XK24A/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a> Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Rachel Rollins played surveillance video of the incidents. &#8220;Like a NASCAR pit crew, these videos depict the skill and speed with which these individuals could jack up a vehicle and cut the catalytic converter out,&#8221; Rollins said.
According to the report, the maroon Acura belonged to the crew leader, who planned and participated in each theft. It is alleged that he committed these crimes on a full-time basis, working multiple nights per week for more than eight hours per night. Altogether, the ring was responsible for the thefts of at least 471 catalytic converters across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 and 2023 alone. It is alleged that on multiple nights, they targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night; in one night, they committed 26 thefts.
The thieves then sold them to a chop-shopper who accumulated stolen catalytic converters from multiple theft crews and in turn, sold them to scrap dealers throughout the Northeast, including several dealers who have since been charged for transportation of stolen property and money laundering. Catalytic converters reduce pollutant gases from car engines into safe emissions using chemical reactions. The catalysts for the chemical reactions include precious metals like palladium, platinum, and rhodium; they are extremely rare and more valuable per ounce than gold. Stealing a catalytic converter also renders the vehicle inoperable, both mechanically and legally.
The thieves are also alleged to have conspired to steal from ATMs of banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022. They are also alleged to have burglarized two New Hampshire jewelry stores in January 2023.
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The thieves are charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce, which carries a five-year prison term, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine; interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a 10-year prison term, supervised release, and another $250,000 fine; conspiracy to commit bank theft, which also carries five years in prison, supervised release, and a $250,000 fine; bank theft, which carries 10 years, supervised release, and a $250,000 fine; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a 20-year prison term and a $500,000 fine.

Stolen Catalytic Converters

‘Like A NASCAR Pit Crew’: Authorities Bust Car Theft Ring That Stole Catalytic Converters In Less Than A Minute

'Like A NASCAR Pit Crew': Authorities Bust Car Theft Ring That Stole Catalytic Converters In Less Than A Minute

Massachusetts

Organized crime

The city of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milwaukee</a> is in the midst of a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/car-theft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">car theft</a> epidemic, but instead of criminals, the city is targeting the car makers.
The Milwaukee Common Council voted Tuesday to approve a resolution to seek outside counsel to pursue a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai. The city will join a multi-district lawsuit being heard against the two automakers, claiming that their cars are too easy to steal. Milwaukee officials called the city &#8220;ground zero&#8221; for the car thefts.
&#8220;It is my hope that not only do we curb the thefts but that the City of Milwaukee recovers some of the damages for police, fire, [Department of Public Works] and any other costs that we&#8217;ve had to incur as a result of the negligence of Kia and Hyundai,&#8221; Milwaukee alderwoman Milele Coggs said at a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91nGgecyuQk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a> Wednesday morning.
Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer said the city intended to be the first city to sue the automakers, but would still proceed with its case even though other cities have already filed suit. &#8220;In my estimation, all the [car theft] problems have emanated out of Milwaukee,&#8221; said Spencer. &#8220;This is ground zero, the epicenter of the cause of the problems that we&#8217;ve been experiencing throughout the country.&#8221;
According to crime data from the <a href="https://city.milwaukee.gov/police/Information-Services/Crime-Maps-and-Statistics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milwaukee Police Department</a>, there were 10,487 motor vehicle thefts in 2021, and 8,097 more in 2022. A report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, cited by the Common Council in a <a href="https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccCouncil/News/2023/District-06/CouncilapprovesmeasurethatcouldleadtocitylawsuitagainstKiaandHyundai2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, found that Milwaukee had the 8th highest rate of motor vehicle theft of any city in the United States in 2021, and the highest increase from 2020-2021 of any city. In the year 2023 to date, there have been 1,323 car thefts.
Thefts have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/car-thefts-in-america-reach-highest-level-in-over-a-decade-analysis-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">particularly risen</a> for certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles, because they lack immobilizers, an electronic device that prevent criminals from bypassing the key-start ignition in the cars. A trend emerged on TikTok in September challenging criminals to steal a car by breaking into it, taking off the steering wheel, and hotwiring the engine with a USB cord, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/tiktok-challenge-spurs-rise-in-thefts-of-kia-hyundai-cars.html">CNBC</a> reported. The hashtag &#8220;#KiaBoys&#8221; was viewed more than 33 million times at the time. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2023/02/14/kia-and-hyundai-announce-software-update-said-to-deter-theft/69905025007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">further reported</a> that the &#8220;Kia Boys&#8221; theft ring originated in Milwaukee.
According to a report from <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/27/business/progressive-state-farm-hyundai-kia/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>, the problem has reportedly gotten so bad that major auto insurers Progressive and State Farm have stopped covering Kia and Hyundai models in certain cities, including Denver and St. Louis, because of the high rates of theft. Kia and Hyundai have previously stated that their cars are in compliance with federal standards; they also announced software updates intended to deter thieves by requiring the key to be in the ignition socket before the car can turn on.
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According to the <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/22/milwaukee-announces-lawsuit-against-kia-hyundai-over-vehicle-thefts/70035526007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal Sentinel</a>, the city&#8217;s lawsuit will be part of a multi-district suit that is being adjudicated in the federal Central District of California. Earlier this month, the city of Madison voted to hire outside counsel to sue the two automakers. Other cities suing Kia and Hyundai include <a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/nbc-7-responds-2/san-diego-city-attorney-suing-kia-hyundai-after-social-media-theft-challenge/3189893/">San Diego</a>, <a href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-lawsuit-kia-hyundai/281-293d9e1b-bada-49bd-bebf-ad7f31ede361" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seattle</a>, and <a href="https://fox8.com/news/cle-council-pushes-lawsuit-for-hyundai-kia-thefts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland</a>.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul signed a <a href="https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/news-media/AG%20Letter%20to%20Hyundia%20and%20Kia%20final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> along with 22 other state AGs demanding that Kia and Hyundai equip immobilizers as standard equipment.

04B38C79-6CC7-459B-98F6-DC69980EDBD4_1_201_a

Milwaukee Has A Car Theft Epidemic. The City Is Suing Car Makers, Claiming Their Cars Are Too Easy To Steal.

Amid Car Theft Epidemic, Milwaukee Sues Kia And Hyundai, Claiming Their Cars Are Too Easy To Steal

Milwaukee

Rental car company Hertz has agreed to pay almost $170 million in settlements over claims of false robbery with its customers. 
The company <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/12/05/hertz-settlement-false-arrests-customers/10838055002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a press release that it had settled 364 claims, which resolves over 95% of all of the claims. It will pay around $168 million by the end of the year and said it &#8220;expects to recover a meaningful portion of the settlement amount from its insurance carriers.”
Customers of the car company have argued that they were pulled over, arrested, and put in <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/business/hertz-lawsuit-settlement/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jail</a> and prosecuted for stealing vehicles. In reality, they claimed, Hertz just couldn’t find the cars after they were turned back in. Some customers have taken issue with other frustrations with their rentals.
One of the lawsuits <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/business/hertz-rental-arrests/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">involved</a> 47 customers and claimed the company didn’t keep track of rental extensions and incorrectly said customers hadn’t issued payments. The suit also said that Hertz didn’t keep track of its cars and also didn’t rectify false reports that had been made to law enforcement. 
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Some of the people who have sued Hertz said police held them at gunpoint over the mixups. 
“We are reviewing and considering each claim brought against Hertz on its individual merits,” Hertz spokesman Jonathan Stern said at the time. “We have begun extending settlement offers to dozens of claimants and will continue to do so on a case by case basis.”
Hertz CEO Steven Scherr <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/12/05/hertz-settlement-false-arrests-customers/10838055002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrived</a> at the company in February and promised to fix the problem. 
&#8220;As I have said since joining Hertz earlier this year, my intention is to lead a company that puts the customer first. In resolving these claims, we are holding ourselves to that objective,&#8221; Scherr said.
&#8220;While we will not always be perfect, the professionals at Hertz will continue to work every day to provide best-in-class service to the tens of millions of people we serve each year. Moving forward, it is our intention to reshape the future of our company through electrification, shared mobility and a great digital-first customer experience,” he added. 
In June, Hertz distributed its initial grouping of settlement offers. Prior to the settlements, the lawyers for the plaintiffs guessed that the total amount of money in damages would be over $960 million, but Hertz acknowledged that the company felt as if that figure was exaggerated. 
Hertz also <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/hertz-pay-168-million-theft-arrest-problems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the settlement money will probably not have a &#8220;material impact on its capital allocation plans for the balance of 2022 and 2023.&#8221;

F49B899E-E1DD-4BAC-80C9-336C84B806EF_1_201_a

Hertz To Pay $168 Million In Settlements Over Arrest, Theft Claims

Hertz Car Rental Company To Pay $168 Million In Settlements Over Arrest, Theft Claims

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is asking the public for assistance in locating a missing portable nuclear gauge that went missing after thieves stole a vehicle that has since been recovered.
According to authorities, left untouched, the device cannot do any harm. However, if it is disturbed, the device could leak radiation to those around it.
&#8220;It is critical for anyone who has information about the lost nuclear gauge to contact local authorities or DEP,” DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection Director David Allard <a href="https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=22099&amp;typeid=1">said</a> in a press release. “As long as the device is not tampered with or damaged, it presents no hazard to public safety.”
The press release noted that the &#8220;gauge containing sealed sources of radioactive material … belongs to KAKS and Company LLC of Harleysville, PA.&#8221;
&#8220;This type of nuclear gauge is commonly used to evaluate the properties of building and road-bed materials at construction sites throughout the commonwealth,&#8221; the press release noted. &#8220;The radioactive material contained within the gauge is believed to be in a safe, shielded position.&#8221;
A photo of the missing gauge can be seen here:
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Norristown, PA – DEP Urges Public to Report Missing Portable Nuclear Gauge:<a href="https://t.co/2vft9YSf9g">https://t.co/2vft9YSf9g</a> <a href="https://t.co/j17SOAL3jt">pic.twitter.com/j17SOAL3jt</a>
&mdash; PA Department of Environmental Protection (@PennsylvaniaDEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/PennsylvaniaDEP/status/1515055101290942470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Anyone who finds the gauge should not handle it directly, but rather maintain distance, limit time of proximity, and immediately contact local authorities or the DEP’s Southeast Regional Office at 484-250-5900,&#8221; Pennsylvania&#8217;s DEP added. &#8220;A trained individual will recover the gauge.&#8221;
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Anyone who finds the gauge should not handle it directly, but rather maintain distance, limit time of proximity, and immediately contact local authorities or the DEP’s Southeast Regional Office at 484-250-5900. A trained individual will recover the gauge.
&mdash; PA Department of Environmental Protection (@PennsylvaniaDEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/PennsylvaniaDEP/status/1515055102989680653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This is now the second time in less than a year that a nuclear gauge has gone missing in the Keystone State.
In October 2021, authorities <a href="https://fox56.com/news/local/dep-and-state-police-in-search-of-missing-nuclear-gauge">asked</a> the public for help in locating a similar device after a worker at CMT Laboratories &#8220;inadvertently departed the job site without properly securing the gauge in its case.&#8221; That device was found and returned safely.
A description of the missing nuclear gauge can be found here:
<blockquote>The nuclear density gauge is a Troxler Model 3440, serial number 31109. The gauge is yellow in color and about the size of a shoe box, with an electronic keypad and a metal rod extending from the top surface. The Troxler gauge contains approximately 8 millicuries of Cesium-137 and 40 millicuries of Americium-241. The radioactive material is in a double encapsulated source capsule within the device to protect its integrity.</blockquote>
The Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.epa.gov/radtown/nuclear-gauges">provided</a> more details on what these kinds of devices actually do:
<blockquote> Nuclear gauges measure three main things: thickness, density, and fill level. Thickness gauges are used in manufacturing to make sure an entire product or material is the same thickness throughout, or to make sure the coating on a material is even. Density gauges are used in cement, petroleum, and road production to make sure that the density of a material is the same. Level gauges measure how much liquid is in a container, to make sure that each container has the same amount of product.</blockquote>
Related:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/radioactive-boar-pig-hybrids-emerge-from-fukushima-disaster-site-according-to-study">Radioactive Boar-Pig Hybrids Emerge From Fukushima Disaster Site, According To Study</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/during-nuclear-explosion-federal-government-advises-mask-wearing-and-social-distancing-in-bomb-shelter">During Nuclear Explosion, Federal Government Advises Mask Wearing And Social Distancing In Bomb Shelter</a></li>
</ul>

Nuclear Logo

Portable Nuclear Gauge Missing In Pennsylvania After Thieves Steal Vehicle

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Nuclear

Pennsylvania

Theft

A missing Atlanta UPS package driver was found by law enforcement on Tuesday after allegedly being carjacked at gunpoint, kidnapped, and left bound in his vehicle after perpetrators robbed his packages.
The Atlanta Police Department reported that the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. The driver was forced to drive to a quiet area on Bankhead Court where he was bound and his packages were reportedly stolen.
UPS tracked the truck after it did not report to its destination on time. When police arrived, the driver was found tied up in the back. The driver was reportedly uninjured.
“While the truck was stopped at a traffic light, a person armed with a firearm got into the vehicle and forced the victim to drive to Bankhead Court,” a police spokesman said in the statement, according to the <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-ups-driver-kidnapped-at-gunpoint-packages-stolen/X2IGYTDJDRDD3PJROCCMFFRRPQ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: UPS driver kidnapped at gunpoint, packages stolen<a href="https://t.co/ybcdfMG5eX">https://t.co/ybcdfMG5eX</a>
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajc/status/1475888499001856000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
“Once there the suspect, along with others, tied the victim up and stole cargo from the tractor-trailer,” he added. Approximately 25% of the truck&#8217;s packages were taken, the report noted.
The suspects have not yet been identified in the brazen robbery.
“At least one suspect got in his truck, held him at gunpoint and gave him some directions to drive around the area,” police said, according to a report by <a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/ups-driver-kidnapped-gunpoint-found-tied-up-tractor-trailer-police-say/BWCVKAZWXVFLFM2NK2KDBMOLMU/?fbclid=IwAR2nc4hVoyb_RmgHav5WVfkKu34n-ReerT6HSTA3rv_kyOPq7m2oVlB5jGQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WSB-TV</a> Altanta. “They drove to the back of the lot, where they unloaded the contents on the back of the truck and loaded it onto their own truck that had been there waiting.”
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The suspect and other people tied up the driver and stole packages from the truck before they left the scene. <a href="https://t.co/tFXeqeoocO">https://t.co/tFXeqeoocO</a>
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/wsbtv/status/1475882431462969344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
&#8220;We are thankful that our driver is safe, and will defer questions to the investigating authorities,&#8221; a company representative said in a statement Wednesday, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ups-driver-kidnapped-packages-stolen-brazen-atlanta-heist-rcna10307" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>.
The concerning incident follows two carjackings involving political leaders in two other states.
Five suspects were <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/congresswoman-mary-gay-scanlon-carjacked-at-fdr-park-in-south-philly-spokesperson-says?taid=61c3e8721ff9440001263808&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=trueanthem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apprehended</a> in Delaware on Wednesday last week after state police discovered them with the vehicle that was reportedly carjacked earlier in the day from Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon.
Scanlon reported her SUV being carjacked at gunpoint at FDR Park in South Philadelphia along the 1900 block of Pattison Avenue, according to law enforcement. The congresswoman was unharmed in the incident.
Scanlon’s office released a statement thanking police on Wednesday:
<blockquote>Wednesday afternoon around 2:45 p.m., Congresswoman Scanlon was carjacked at gunpoint in FDR Park following a meeting at that location. The Congresswoman was physically unharmed. She thanks the Philadelphia Police Department for their swift response, and appreciates the efforts of both the Sergeant at Arms in D.C. and her local police department for coordinating with Philly PD to ensure her continued safety.</blockquote>
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Statement from the Office of Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on today&#8217;s incident: <a href="https://t.co/fomScnWUXo">pic.twitter.com/fomScnWUXo</a>
— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMGS/status/1473777010010951681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
In addition to Scanlon’s incident, Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford and her husband Eric McKennie were carjacked on December 21 at gunpoint in the Chicago suburb of Broadview. Lightford is the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the state’s Senate.
“Police said three men driving a Durango took a black Mercedez Benz SUV that belonged to Lightford, police said. The state senate majority leader was dropping her hairstylist off at her home when the incident occurred,” <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/il-state-senator-kimberly-lightford-carjacked-broadview-carjacking/11372070/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News 7 Chicago</a> reported.

UPS Truck

Kidnapped Atlanta UPS Driver Found By Police After Alleged Carjacking

In the robbery-infested areas of San Francisco and Oakland, California, some residents are so fearful of having their cars broken into that they are deliberately leaving their car trunks open so robbers won’t shatter the windows.
“We see the aftermath of car break-ins all too often. Windows smashed, glass shattered, but now some people are getting so fed-up they’re leaving their trunks open, hoping that will at least spare them the hefty bill to get it fixed,” ABC 7 reported.
People have even posted signs on their cars begging, “Please use the door,” or “Please Do Not Break Glass!! Nothing Inside!!”
One witness, seeing a trunk left wide open, posted on social media, “Imagine having to clean out your car and leaving it open in public just to people won’t break your windows. Oakland we looking sad man.”
Oakland’s Deputy Interim Police Chief Drennon Lindsey, apprised  that people were leaving their trunks open, admitted, “It doesn’t really surprise me.”
Former Deputy San Francisco Deputy Police Chief Garret Tom, who spent nearly 40 years on the police force, said he had never seen anything like it, commenting that leaving trunks open was an “invitation” or “disaster,” adding, “they could steal your batteries or go into your glove compartment, find out where you live… if they leave their trunk open, some cars, depending on what kind of car you have, you still can get inside to the interior.”
The SFPD has reported that 2021 has seen a 32% increase in car break-ins and 25% increase in auto burglaries compared to 2020. In Oakland, 2021 has seen a 27% increase in both categories over 2020.
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Unreal. San Francisco is a hell hole <a href="https://t.co/Jn8sy7qSX8">pic.twitter.com/Jn8sy7qSX8</a>
&mdash; Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1471202239272288258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Wire <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/car-with-family-young-children-robbed-in-san-francisco-latest-in-smash-and-grab-crime-spree/">reported</a> last week:
<blockquote>A family with young children visiting the city of San Francisco had their rental car broken into and several valuable items stolen, the latest instance of &#8220;smash-and-grab&#8221; style robberies throughout the state of California.
According to local news station <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/car-broken-into-with-family-members-toddlers-inside-near-san-franciscos-lombard-street/">KRON 4</a>, Kimberly Balde, her sister, Katherine, and her two young children, were in the car when the robbery occurred. They had stopped their car on Lombard Street when a thief smashed the back window and stole her bag, her computer, her sister&#8217;s passport, the children&#8217;s birth certificates, and other valuables.</blockquote>
“In the month of November, city data shows there were 3,375 reports of larceny theft in San Francisco – the overwhelming majority of those were car break-ins. SFPD’s Central District, home to tourist hot spots including Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, sees the highest number of smash-and-grabs,” <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/12/08/san-francisco-auto-burglary-car-break-in-its-out-of-control/">CBS San Francisco</a> added.
In Mid-November, <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/breaking-point-sf-suffers-highest-rate-of-car-break-ins-compared-to-atlanta-dc-dallas-la/2731757/">NBC Bay Area</a> titled a piece, “SF Suffers Highest Rate of Car Break-Ins Compared to Atlanta, DC, Dallas, LA,” subheading it, “The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit rode along with undercover police officers, interviewed top law enforcement officials, and obtained and analyzed court and police records to find out why car burglaries remain one of the most prolific crimes in San Francisco.”

Window smashed by car thief street scene

‘Please Do Not Break Glass’: San Franciscans Leaving Car Trunks Open To Prevent Smash-And-Grab

San Francisco

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