Lockport, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Niagara County Sheriff's Office partnered with AAA East Central and the Lockport Police Department on Tuesday to distribute free steering wheel lock devices for drivers of Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022.
These steering wheel lock devices were available on a first come, first serve basis to owners of Hyundais and Kias locally, and were offered as a way to help further prevent vehicle thefts from taking place.
"If you own a Kia or a Hyundai, some of them are the most stolen vehicles. Kia and Hyundai have supplied these wheel locks, and they're free of charge," said Terri Rae Anthony, safety advisor at AAA East Central. "It doesn't matter if you're a member of AAA or not, we welcome everyone to the event, and we're so happy to be able to share this for auto theft prevention."
Anthony says there are still Kias and Hyundais that are being stolen, especially the certain years they were manufactured. This despite dealers across the country conducting security systems updates to try and prevent vehicles from being stolen.
"Let's face it: Vehicles cost a lot of money, and we want to do everything we can to protect our investment and our vehicles," Anthony said with WBEN. "So if you're traveling in places unknown, big cities where there's lots of people, tourists, or anywhere where you think that your vehicle may be stolen, you might want to add this wheel lock."
Where has AAA received the most calls for stolen vehicles recently from customers?
"Seems like in the city, there's more vehicles stolen than out in the suburbs. So a lot of people that travel into the city want to make sure that their vehicle's safe as well, so they're asking for these wheel locks," Anthony noted.
If you happen to receive one of these steering wheel lock devices, or plan to purchase one, Anthony says installation is quite simple.
"It comes with instructions, but there's a key and a little notch and a dot, and all you do is put the key in, release it until it fits your steering wheel, and turn the key and it's locked," she detailed.
The AAA offices in Lockport is the only location in Western New York that currently has these steering wheel lock devices available free of charge.
"There'll be some additional wheel locks left here, so if they still are in need of one, they can call here at the AAA in Lockport and check to see if they still have some, and they'll be glad to give them out to them," Anthony added.