Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Following a concerning trend of Kia and Hyundai thefts in Richmond and nationwide, Richmond police are recommending that owners of these cars take extra precautions to keep their vehicles safe.
Kia and Hyundai dealerships are offering software updates to help prevent theft, according to police, but those updates don't deter thieves from breaking windows and damaging steering columns before realizing the car has the antitheft updates. Police recommend buying a visible lock for Kias and Hyundais, such as a club-style steering wheel lock or a boot.
This trend of thefts likely began as a viral challenge demonstrating how easy it is to steal these models, and most of the thieves Richmond police are arresting have been relatively young. 55 Kias and Hyundais were stolen in May 2023 alone, say RPD, compared to just 3 last May.