I-Team rides along with police amid increase in car thefts

I-Team rides along with police amid increase in car thefts

Police are offering preventative precautions for car owners to take as the number of car thefts increases across the Baltimore area.Baltimore County police called the increasing number of thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars a very serious problem.”We’ve seen astronomical rises,” said Baltimore County police Detective Sgt. Steven Sunderland, a member of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force. “Our arrests and our recoveries have definitely gone up.”During a patrol ride-along Friday morning, Sunderland told 11 News that Hyundai and Kia cars now get more scrutiny because of the rise in thefts. According to Baltimore County police records, thieves stole 18 Hyundais and 12 Kias last year. So far this year, the numbers are 186 and 64, respectively.The cars usually taken are those requiring a key to turn and start the ignition. Cars with push-button starts and key fobs don’t appear to be the main targets. “People steal cars of all makes and models. We can’t look at every single car, but every time a Hyundai or Kia comes by, we’re going to look a little bit harder because there’s that many out there that have been stolen,” Sunderland told 11 News.Sunderland took 11 News to a location where a stolen and recovered Hyundai Elantra was parked. A broken ignition switch could be seen inside the car on the floor near the driver’s seat.”They pulled the plastic housing on the steering column and exposed the ignition cylinder. There is a little toggle on that side,” Sunderland said.Some thieves have used something as simple as a USB port to start the car.”It takes about 10 seconds,” Sunderland told 11 News.As investigations into the thefts continue, in many cases, police said they’re finding the thieves are under the age of 18, and some of them are repeatedly arrested, which adds to investigators’ frustration.”There was a juvenile I arrested last week. This was his fifth arrest since January, and he was arrested since that time in another one,” Sunderland said. “Our team locked up a juvenile in Baltimore County and then locked him up 12 hours later in another one.”Baltimore County police and other agencies are giving out steering wheel locks as theft-prevention devices.Police said they hope more Hyundai and Kia drivers will take this and other precautions.”(A) lock is fantastic. Go to the dealership and get a software patch. It’s free, and protect yourself,” Sunderland said.Baltimore County police said they will be giving out more steering wheel lock devices on April 21.For owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, the following information has more details as well as links to schedule a software upgrade from a dealer.Hyundai ownersHyundai launched a service campaign offering a software upgrade to car owners with the following vehicle models:2017-2020 Elantra2015-2019 Sonata2020-2021 VenueThe free upgrade can be performed by Hyundai dealers and will take less than one hour to install. After the upgrade, your car will have a sticker placed on the window warning would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology.Kia ownersKia owners looking to receive a software upgrade preventing theft should call 800-333-4542. A special section of the owner’s portal at kia.com has also been published.You can also find information on how to obtain a steering wheel lock for your Kia here.

Police are offering preventative precautions for car owners to take as the number of car thefts increases across the Baltimore area.

Baltimore County police called the increasing number of thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars a very serious problem.

“We’ve seen astronomical rises,” said Baltimore County police Detective Sgt. Steven Sunderland, a member of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force. “Our arrests and our recoveries have definitely gone up.”

During a patrol ride-along Friday morning, Sunderland told 11 News that Hyundai and Kia cars now get more scrutiny because of the rise in thefts. According to Baltimore County police records, thieves stole 18 Hyundais and 12 Kias last year. So far this year, the numbers are 186 and 64, respectively.

The cars usually taken are those requiring a key to turn and start the ignition. Cars with push-button starts and key fobs don’t appear to be the main targets.

“People steal cars of all makes and models. We can’t look at every single car, but every time a Hyundai or Kia comes by, we’re going to look a little bit harder because there’s that many out there that have been stolen,” Sunderland told 11 News.

Sunderland took 11 News to a location where a stolen and recovered Hyundai Elantra was parked. A broken ignition switch could be seen inside the car on the floor near the driver’s seat.

“They pulled the plastic housing on the steering column and exposed the ignition cylinder. There is a little toggle on that side,” Sunderland said.

Some thieves have used something as simple as a USB port to start the car.

“It takes about 10 seconds,” Sunderland told 11 News.

As investigations into the thefts continue, in many cases, police said they’re finding the thieves are under the age of 18, and some of them are repeatedly arrested, which adds to investigators’ frustration.

“There was a juvenile I arrested last week. This was his fifth arrest since January, and he was arrested since that time in another one,” Sunderland said. “Our team locked up a juvenile in Baltimore County and then locked him up 12 hours later in another one.”

Baltimore County police and other agencies are giving out steering wheel locks as theft-prevention devices.

Police said they hope more Hyundai and Kia drivers will take this and other precautions.

“(A) lock is fantastic. Go to the dealership and get a software patch. It’s free, and protect yourself,” Sunderland said.

Baltimore County police said they will be giving out more steering wheel lock devices on April 21.

For owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, the following information has more details as well as links to schedule a software upgrade from a dealer.

Hyundai owners

Hyundai launched a service campaign offering a software upgrade to car owners with the following vehicle models:

  • 2017-2020 Elantra
  • 2015-2019 Sonata
  • 2020-2021 Venue

The free upgrade can be performed by Hyundai dealers and will take less than one hour to install. After the upgrade, your car will have a sticker placed on the window warning would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology.

Kia owners

Kia owners looking to receive a software upgrade preventing theft should call 800-333-4542. A special section of the owner’s portal at kia.com has also been published.

You can also find information on how to obtain a steering wheel lock for your Kia here.

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