A surge in thefts of Hyundai and Kia automobiles is plaguing cities throughout the nation, with potential thieves being proven on social media bypass safety features in some fashions.
In St. Paul, Minn., Fox 9 reported that nearly 1 / 4 of 2022’s auto thefts thus far have been Hyundais or Kias. In Grand Rapids, Mich., MLive reported Hyundai and Kia fashions made up about 45 % of town’s auto thefts in June. In St. Louis, thefts of Kias and Hyundais have greater than tripled in 2022, Spectrum Information reported in early June.
Some metropolis governments have blamed Hyundai and Kia for promoting some fashions with out engine immobilizers, which stop the engine from beginning with no digitally coded key or fob. In keeping with some reviews, customers on purposes reminiscent of TikTok and YouTube are giving detailed directions on steal automobiles with out immobilizers.
YouTube consumer El Mechanic, for instance, posted a video in November 2021 demonstrating steal a Hyundai car with a USB charger. That video and a few information reviews reference the “Kia Boys,” the title for a viral group that steals Kia and Hyundai automobiles and posts the crimes on social media.
Police officers in quite a few cities declare these emulating the development are accountable for the latest sprees.
Hyundai and Kia spokespeople informed Automotive Information that they had been conscious of the thefts and that engine immobilizers at the moment are normal on each model’s new automobiles.