Hyundai, Kia thefts soar in El Paso; police to give out steering wheel locks Wednesday
Seeking to slow a local outbreak of thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars, the El Paso Police Department will be giving away steering wheel locks to the owners of the vehicles targeted in social media-inspired thefts nationwide.
There have been 104 Hyundai and Kia vehicles reported stolen in El Paso so far this year, compared with 39 at this time last year, police officials said Monday.
The 100 free steering wheel locks will be distributed from 9 a.m. to noon, or until supplies last, on Wednesday, June 28, in the parking lot of the police Northeast Regional Command Center, 9600 Dyer St.
The anti-theft devices are being provided by Hyundai Motor America in collaboration with the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.
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The epidemic of Hyundai and Kia thefts from New York to California is spurred by a security flaw publicized in videos on TikTok and other social media sites showing how to start the vehicles without a key.
Hyundai and Kia are part of the same South Korean corporate family.
Earlier this year, ago, Hyundai and Kia unveiled software designed to thwart the theft epidemic, but thieves still are driving off with the vehicles, USA TODAY reported. Some cities have reported that 60% or more of their auto theft reports now involve Hyundai or Kia vehicles.
Earlier this month, New York City filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, claiming the companies' vehicles are too easy to steal, creating potential risks to the public.
For more information on the steering wheel lock giveaway, call the El Paso Police Department Auto Theft Task Force at 915-212-0310.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hyundai, Kia thefts soar in El Paso; police to give out free locks
