Auto dealer invents device to deter car thieves

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Car thieves are getting more brazen here in the metro, and they are specifically targeting Hyundais and Kias.

Last weekend, two cars were stolen from a gated parking lot at a downtown apartment complex.

Now, one dealership in the metro is taking a stand. The owner says he has created what he calls the solution to auto theft.

Owner and inventor, Steve Henry, says he was inspired to create this device after eight cars were stolen off his lot two years ago

“Back in December of 2021 I come in and do my normal routine, open up the dealership, and as I’m pulling up, I realize there are some cars missing, and I think ‘Uh oh.’ Right away I knew I’d been hit,” said Steve Henry, owner of Exodus Auto Sales. 

Thieves tunneled through his roof, cut all the wires to the security cameras, and made off with eight cars from his lot – but the crimes didn’t end there.

“All but one of them were recovered and all seven that were recovered were used in dubious activities, motel parking lots. One was in an accident and the thieves driving the car were seen on foot running into a neighborhood,” said Henry. 

It was at that moment Henry vowed he was going to do something about auto theft,  so he invented and tested a device.

“It’s a little remote key fob. Basically, when you activate this into the off position, you are powering down the vehicle and the ignition components,” Henry said.  

Henry showed off a Hyundai he already installed the device on and explained:

“It takes 15 to 20 mins on average to install our product. It starts with this box right here, that is the brainchild of the operation.”

Just to prove it’s a working vehicle, Henry started the car, and turned on his device. 

“See nothing not even the horn,” said Henry. “Santa Fe needs to listen, Albuquerque needs to listen this is the answer to our auto theft problem. I will reduce auto theft in this city by 40% in six months if we install this device here.”

Henry’s plan is to get funding from the city or the state to install these devices on Kias and Hyundais across Albuquerque – beating car thieves to the punch.

“Putting in an alarm or a GPS tracker, that’s after the fact. This is on the ground before the crime is committed. I believe I was violated for a reason and I believe that reason is to do exactly what I am doing,” Henry said. 

Henry has been testing his device with family and customers for more than a year. He has installed it on more than 100 cars, and he said none of the cars have been stolen.