Because thieves merely need to break in and use a USB wire to drive the vehicle away, a wave of thefts is targeting Hyundai and Kia models.
Worse still, there are videos on social media that show how to carry out this crime.
According to Automotive News, the afflicted cars don’t have engine immobilizers.
This enables starting the generator without a key or fob by plugging the cord into a specific location.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Hyundai models beginning with the 2015 model year and Kia vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year were impacted.
To deter thefts, local police even began providing steering wheel locks to owners of these goods last year.
Videos of stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles are purportedly being posted online by a group of individuals known as “Kia Boys.”
Then they show themselves having fun driving these cars.
Wisconsin’s Milwaukee appears to be the main hub for this issue. According to Milwaukee’s TMJ4 News, thefts of Hyundai and Kia automobiles increased by 2,644% in 2021 over the previous year.
The police reported that as of September 2021, 20 of the affected models were taken every day.
However, the issue is not limited to one area since there are increasing instances of these models being stolen in other parts of the nation.
As of now, new Hyundai and Kia automobiles feature engine immobilizers, therefore they are unaffected by this issue.
“Hyundai Motor America is concerned with the rise in local auto thefts. The safety and well-being of our customers and the community is and will remain our top priority. These vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and engine immobilizers are standard equipment on all new Hyundai vehicles. Hyundai customers who have questions can always contact the Hyundai Consumer Assistance Center at 800-633-5151,” a company spokesperson told.
To read our blog on “To stop mobile phone theft, KP introduced a new software system,” click here.
