Facts at a Glance
- Incident: Car theft
- Vehicle: Hyundai IONIQ5 (Color: Grey)
- Location: Jena, Lobeda-Altstadt
- Timeframe: Monday evening (16.02.) to Tuesday morning (17.02.)
- Responsible Authority: Landespolizeiinspektion Jena
Jena/Lobeda. It is every driver’s nightmare: looking at the usual parking spot in front of the house only to find it empty. This is exactly the scenario a resident in Jena Lobeda-Altstadt had to experience on Tuesday morning. His high-quality electric vehicle had vanished without a trace overnight.
Vehicle stolen from private property
As reported by the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena, the incident occurred during the night from Monday to Tuesday. A 37-year-old resident of Jena had properly parked his grey Hyundai IONIQ5 on his property on Monday evening. When he intended to return to his vehicle the next morning, he was shocked to find the car was gone.
Initial hopes that the vehicle might have been towed due to a parking violation or obstruction were quickly dashed. The responding police officers investigated the matter and confirmed that no official measures had been taken. This made it clear: it was a theft. Unknown perpetrators had gained access to the property under the cover of darkness and started and removed the vehicle in a manner yet to be determined.
Background and perpetrator strategies for modern vehicles
The theft in Lobeda-Altstadt is part of a problem increasingly affecting owners of modern vehicles equipped with so-called “Keyless Go” systems. Although the police have not yet released details regarding the modus operandi in this specific case, professional car thieves often use signal extenders. In such cases, they intercept the signal from the car key—which is often located in the hallway of the residence—and relay it to the vehicle. The car then “believes” the key is in the immediate vicinity, unlocks the doors, and allows the vehicle to be started.
The location of Lobeda-Altstadt may have been strategically chosen by the perpetrators. Due to its immediate proximity to the federal highway and quick access to the A4 motorway, vehicle thieves often have the opportunity to move far away from the crime scene within minutes, even before the theft is noticed. Electric vehicles like the stolen Hyundai IONIQ5 are now just as sought after as classic luxury internal combustion engine cars due to their high-quality battery technology and spare parts.
Witness appeal and police contact
The Jena police immediately initiated search measures and opened an investigation into a particularly serious case of theft. So far, however, there is no trace of the grey Hyundai. Investigators are now relying on the assistance of the public.
Did you observe any suspicious persons or vehicles in Lobeda-Altstadt during the night from Monday (16.02.) to Tuesday (17.02.)? Did you notice the grey Hyundai IONIQ5 at a late hour within the city area or on the arterial roads?
Any relevant information can be reported to the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena:
- Phone: 03641 – 81 1504
- Email: Pressestelle.LPI.Jena@polizei.thueringen.de
Car owners are advised not to store “Keyless Go” keys unprotected near house doors or windows, or to use special shielding cases to interrupt the signal.
Source:
Vehicle stolen
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.