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HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a stolen Hyundai in Holyoke.
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan stated that at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, an officer in the area of South and Main Street observed three vehicles that were reported stolen. The vehicles were speeding, and when the officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, they sped away. Additional officers were then called to the area to provide assistance.
One of the vehicles reportedly failed to stop at multiple stop signs while being pursued by officers and nearly struck another police cruiser on Main Street. The driver then crashed into the sidewalk on Cabot Street near Bigelow Street. Holyoke police arrested the driver, a 16-year-old boy, and the passenger, identified as 18-year-old Larry Manuel Caliz of Springfield.
The juvenile driver was charged with:
- Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Marked Lanes Violation
- Failure to Yield
Caliz was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle. The identity of the driver will not be shared due to his age.
Chief Keenan is reminding residents of the recent increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts and attempted thefts in the Hampden County area. This is due to the fact that these vehicles, produced between 2010 and 2021, are not equipped with an ignition immobilizer. Recent TikTok and other social media platforms have videos of individuals showing how to steal these types of cars by damaging the steering column and starting the vehicle without a key.
Holyoke Police offer the following tips to protect your vehicles:
- Install a steering wheel locking device
- Lock all car windows and doors
- Install a battery disconnect switch
- Park in a well-lit area
- Install a kill switch (requires professional installation)
- Park in a secure location (garage, parking structure)
- Install an aftermarket car alarm
If anyone has information regarding vehicle thefts in the area, they are advised to contact the Holyoke Police Department at 413-322-6900.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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Beck Wehner
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