Delaware law enforcement have been warning Kia and Hyundai owners about a social media challenge that can put some of their vehicles at risk of theft.
Now, New Castle County Police will host a steering wheel locks giveaway Monday to help fight this crime that became popular last year on TikTok.
Kia and Hyundai models have been targeted across the country following a social media challenge that encourages the stealing of these vehicles and shows viewers how to steal the vehicle without a key.
The vehicles being targeted are Kia models from 2011-21 and Hyundai models from 2015-21. The models don’t have electronic immobilizers, which confirms the key belongs to that vehicle.
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“Giving away these steering wheel locks is important because it is an additional deterrent we can use against vehicle theft to help reduce the financial and emotional impact of theft on victims,” said Cpl. Michael McNasby, a police spokesman. “By making them more widely available along with providing safety tips vehicle owners can take steps to better protect their property.”
The steering wheel giveaway takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at the Paul J. Sweeny Public Safety Building, 3601 N. DuPont Highway, near New Castle. This is a first come, first serve event.
To be eligible for the giveaway, one must have proof of vehicle registration, the vehicle must be a 2011 to 2021 Hyundai or Kia with a key start ignition and motorists must be a resident of New Castle County, where Kias and Hyundais make up 36% of stolen motor vehicle investigations by county police so far this year.
“This is an issue occurring around the entire country and victims are being targeted due to the make and model of the vehicle,” McNasby said. “We are hopeful that these resources can cut down on the number of Kia/Hyundai stolen here in Delaware so that this viral trend could be a thing of the past.”
Social media challenge
The rise of stolen Kias and Hyundais, according to the Indianapolis Star, began in Milwaukee with a notorious car-theft group known as the “Kia Boys” because they primarily target Kias and Hyundais. While Kia and Hyundai operate independently, Hyundai Motor Group is the parent company of Kia Motors.
The crew learned how to easily steal the cars using nothing but a screwdriver and USB charging cord from watching videos online.
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According to Delaware State Police Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto, there has been a notable increase in the number of Kia and Hyundai cars being stolen in the state, both from a DSP perspective and from an overall law enforcement perspective.
“The large majority of these thefts are occurring in New Castle County,” DeMalto said.
Motor vehicle thefts handled by all Delaware police agencies:
Wilmington police, where 24% of the 132 auto thefts in the first four months of this year have been Kia or Hyundai, suggest these car owners contact their dealer or manufacturer for information on security patches or other remedies.
“Owners of affected vehicles can also utilize other third-party security devices,” said David Karas, a Wilmington police spokesman. “We also encourage anyone who observes suspicious activity to contact police.”
What’s being done
Several lawsuits have been filed against Kia and Hyundai claiming the automakers failed to install industry-standard anti-theft technology, resulting in vehicle thefts. Several of these lawsuits have been filed by cities including Cleveland, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis, whose police force said 61% of all vehicles stolen in that city since May 2022 had been Kias and Hyundais. These brands also make up 88% of all reported attempted vehicle thefts in that time period.
“The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has been working hard to arrest car thieves and hold them accountable for their actions,“ St. Louis Police Chief Robert J. Tracy said in a March statement.
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“But the huge spike in Kias and Hyundai thefts make the job of police departments like ours much more difficult, siphoning resources that could be devoted to other law enforcement priorities,” added Tracy, who was Wilmington’s police chief. “This lawsuit is an important step to make our streets safer for residents and visitors alike.”
The lawsuit seeks more than $75,000 in damages, relief and other costs.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia and Hyundai will provide the software update free of charge, which will be handled in a phased approach. Hyundai also will provide customers with a window sticker alerting would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with anti-theft protection.
The upgrade modifies vehicle control modules on Hyundai vehicles that have standard “turn-key-to-start” ignition systems. Once the systems are upgraded, locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an “ignition kill” feature so the vehicles can’t be started when thieves try to take off with them.
Customers must use the key fob to unlock their vehicles and deactivate the ignition kill feature, Hyundai said.
Kia has also promised some customers enhanced security software that should be available over the next few months, the company said in a statement in February.
How to avoid vehicle theft
While using a steering wheel lock helps prevent vehicle theft, police also recommend the following tips to help people from becoming a victim.
If your vehicle is stolen, call 911 immediately and provide the following information:
For questions about the event, please call New Castle County Police’s community services unit at (302) 395-8050.
Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
