Own a Kia or Hyundai? Here’s how you can keep your car from being stolen.

If you own a Kia or Hyundai, chances are you’re more conscious of locking your doors and hiding valuable items after recent car theft reports.

Over the past several months, reports of stolen Kia and Hyundai cars have soared nationwide due to a missing anti-theft device, leaving some 2011 models most vulnerable.

Kia America and Hyundai Motor Co. announced they would upgrade software for the cars to fix the flaw at the end of last year, but the number of thefts in the Triangle are still high.

In Raleigh, there was a 26% increase in car thefts in the first three months of the year. Of the 386 cars reported stolen, 74 were Kia and Hyundai models.

Over the past year in Cary, car thefts have been up nearly 54%.

At a May 18 meeting, the Durham Police Department reported that car thefts were up nearly 60% this year, with 297 cars reported stolen since January. Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews said 71 of those cars were left running or had keys or a key fob in the car.

“Social media has really driven our motor vehicle incidents,” Andrews said. “And for the first time since I can remember, Honda’s are not the motor vehicles that are being stolen the most.”

A viral challenge on the popular app TikTok has been to blame for the influx of car thefts of Kia and Hyundai models. The challenge shows people how to break into the cars, open the steering wheel column, and hot-wire it using a USB cord, like one used to charge a phone.

Here’s how car owners can protect their cars.

Free steering wheel locks, software upgrades

Kia America and Hyundai Motor Co.y have offered owners of their combined 8.3 million eligible vehicles a chance to get a software upgrade for the anti-theft technology. Many drivers were notified of the upgrade and instructed to visit nearby dealerships for the fix.

Around the Triangle, police departments are offering free steering wheel locks for cars that require a key to turn the ignition on.

The locks can be found in:

Raleigh

The city’s police department offers the locks at their district stations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Downtown and North District stations are open 24 hours daily if someone needs to pick up a lock after 4 p.m.

Kia and Hyundai owners must show their vehicle registration to get the locks. The stations are at:

  • North District: 6716 Six Forks Road

  • Northwest District: 8016 Glenwood Ave.

  • Northeast District: 5230 Greens Dairy Road

  • Southeast District: 2800 Rock Quarry Road

  • Downtown District: 218 W Cabarrus St.

  • Southwest District: 601 Hutton St.

Durham

Sport Durst Hyundai and University Kia of Durham offer free software upgrades for 2011-22 Hyundai and Kia models, according to the Durham Police Department.

The upgrade will prevent the car from starting if someone tries to steal it. Cars will also get a window sticker to warn others that the car has an anti-theft device.

For the device to effectively work, Durham police said owners must always lock the car doors with the key fob.

Chapel Hill

Residents can pick up their free wheel lock from the Chapel Hill Police Department at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The police department said the social media challenge accounted for 30% of stolen cars reported in the town this year.

Fuquay-Varina

The Fuquay-Varina Police Department received limited steering wheel locks for Kia and Hyundai drivers.

Drivers can show their vehicle registration to pick up their locks at the police department at 401 Old Honeycutt Road. The locks are on a first-come, first-served basis, the department said.

Kia, Hyundai lawsuit settlements

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein and 17 other attorneys general around the country signed a letter to urge Kia America and Hyundai Motor Co. to do more to prevent car thefts.

They say even with the upgraded software, the car companies should accelerate the implementation of the software upgrade and provide free alternative protective measures” to car owners the upgrade doesn’t support.

“Insurance companies are now refusing to insure or restricting coverage for these models, which may create more hardships for car owners in North Carolina, where insurance is required to operate a vehicle,” Stein said in a statement.

Last week, Kia and Hyundai settled a $200 million lawsuit over the car thefts, including compensation to owners for up to $145 million in out-of-pocket losses that will be distributed to people who had their vehicles stolen.

Affected owners could get up to $6,125 for total loss of vehicles and up to $3,375 for damages to the vehicle and personal property, as well as insurance-related expenses.

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