ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg Police have a message for drivers: lock your car doorways. It comes as legislation enforcement throughout the nation see a troubling trend of car thefts targeting particular manufacturers.
Since July 11, St. Pete Police say they’ve had 56 cars stolen and 23 of them have been Kia and Hyundai fashions, noting that’s about 41 p.c.
“What the thieves are doing is they’re defeating the steering column, and they’re able to override the ignition mechanism, allowing them to steal the vehicle much more easily and without a key or a key fob,” stated Juan Cortes, a Property Crimes Detective with St. Pete Police.
It’s not only a theme seen in St. Pete. Det. Cortes defined it might be associated to a social media trend taking place throughout the nation.
“It’s kind of trickled its way down south, and it seems that it’s like wildfire. It’s burning through all the states now,” stated Cortes.
Agencies all throughout the US are posting warnings to social media, from Florida to Nebraska, Minnesota, and Illinois.
St. Pete Police stated the focused cars are Kia and Hyundai fashions 2021 and older that use an inserted key as a substitute of a push button ignition.
“You have victims that may be leaving their vehicles unlocked, which gives them an easier access inside the vehicle,” stated Det. Cortes.
Police advise folks when you’ve got one in all these cars to not depart your key in your car and to lock your doorways. Police additionally stated you possibly can park your car in entrance of one other car or use an anti-theft machine to assist defend your car.
KIA & Hyundai Theft Alert!#stpete pd is seeing an uncommon trend.Since July eleventh, 23 out of 56 stolen cars have been Kia/Hyundais fashions 2021 and older,that use keys to start out.
Anyone with a KIA/Hyundai that makes use of a key, **please** #lockitup pic.twitter.com/l2ZwVHP7cd— St. Pete Police (@StPetePD) July 27, 2022
Hyundai despatched ABC Action News this assertion:
Hyundai Motor America is worried with the rise in native auto thefts. The security and well-being of our clients and the neighborhood is and can stay our prime precedence. These automobiles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and engine immobilizers are customary gear on all new Hyundai automobiles. Hyundai clients who’ve questions can at all times contact the Hyundai Consumer Assistance Center at 800-633-5151.
Kia additionally despatched ABC Action News a press release:
Kia America is conscious of the rise in automobile thefts of a subset of trim ranges in your space. All 2022 fashions and trims have an immobilizer utilized both firstly of the 12 months or as a operating change. All Kia automobiles on the market within the U.S. meet or exceed Federal motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Kia clients with questions concerning their Kia automobile ought to contact the Consumer Assistance heart instantly at 1-800-333-4542 (Kia).
