Yesterday, 39 vehicles were stolen in Pierce County. Twenty (20) of them were Hyundai/Kia models.
Certain Hyundai and Kia models produced from 2011 to 2021 are extremely vulnerable to theft. If you own a 2011-2021 Hyundai or Kia, and you use a standard metal key to turn-start your vehicle, this message is for you.
Experienced thieves and juveniles alike have learned how to start these vehicles without a key, thanks to videos circulating on social media. Thieves will break your window, pop off the steering column, start your car using nothing more than a USB cable, and will be gone in under a minute.
That’s why if you own one of these models, it’s extremely important that you take immediate steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim. We encourage you to purchase an anti-theft device, such as a steering wheel lock (think ‘The Club’ from the 90’s), which can be purchased online for $40.
While many stolen vehicles do get recovered by our task force and other police agencies, they are often found in an undriveable condition or have extensive damage and/or drug contamination. We don’t want this to happen to your vehicle, so we encourage you to take action today.