Kia owners suffer as thefts increase 350% in Indianapolis
Jake AllenUpdate: Kia thefts in Indianapolis have continued to increase. There has been a 350% increase in Kia thefts in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to information released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on July 10, 2023.
If Angela Carter knew what was going to happen, she wouldn’t have purchased her Kia Optima.
The 49-year-old woman was cooking a bowl of chili after returning home from her morning shift helping patients at an addiction recovery center. She stepped outside her home on the west side of Indianapolis to grab a few items from her car.
It was gone.
“It had just disappeared," Carter said. "In broad daylight, it was stolen.”
The thieves targeted Carter’s car, a 2015 model, because it lacked an anti-theft measure that is standard in other vehicles. They were able to start the car and drive away just a few moments after they broke in, Carter's home security footage showed.
Thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles have become a common issue across the country in recent years. Now police are warning residents the trend has arrived in Indianapolis.
While thefts of vehicles in the city are down 12% in 2023, thefts of certain Kia and Hyundai models have increased this year, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
In January, 19% of all vehicles stolen in the city were Kia or Hyundai models. For comparison, those vehicles only accounted for 4% of all stolen vehicles from August 2021 through January 2022.
Indianapolis police have reached out to other cities that have previously seen a significant rise in the thefts to figure out how to curb the problem, a Facebook post from the department reads.
From Milwaukee:Over 11,500 vehicles were stolen across the Milwaukee area in 2021. The trend doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Social media videos have circulated showing how you can peel the steering column off some Hyundai and Kia vehicles and use a USB cable to start the cars. The videos have worsened the problem across the country.
In Milwaukee, where the trend may have started, the issue has become so prevalent that police are using bait cars to try and catch thieves. Cincinnati attorney Jeffrey Goldenberg filed a class action lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai seeking compensation and fixes for vehicle owners.
The vehicles being targeted are Kia models from 2011-21 and Hyundai models from 2015-21. Some auto insurance companies are refusing to insure the vehicles, according to police.
Many of them lack electronic immobilizers that prevent thieves from breaking in and bypassing the ignition. The feature has been standard on nearly all vehicles manufactured by other companies since 2015, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.
From Cincinnati:Kia, Hyundai thefts: Greater Cincinnati car owners file class action lawsuit
Stolen Kia recovered with flat tires, damaged ignition
The day after it was stolen, Carter spotted someone driving her vehicle down the street. She and her roommate followed and called 911, but the suspects fled before police arrived.
When it was recovered, her car had two flat tires, a cracked front end, a missing antenna and a damaged ignition. It’s in the shop and Carter doesn’t know how long it will be there since replacement parts are on backorder.
Her vehicle was full of clothes and shoes as she was looking for a new apartment before the car was stolen. Most of those items are gone, along with cherished tokens acquired during Carter's path toward sobriety.
"My car was like my other home on wheels,” Carter said. “I really took care of it and kept up on maintenance and oil changes and everything.”
She wishes someone would have informed her that Kias were being targeted by thieves. She is looking forward to trading the vehicle in once it is fixed, Carter said.
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“I don't get too angry, but I am very disappointed,” Carter said. “This is a problem I didn't even know about that was spreading. It's disheartening.”
Helen Gardner, who lives on the north side of Indianapolis, is still waiting for her vehicle to be found after it was stolen Feb. 5. The woman’s 2017 Kia Soul was parked on the street in front of her home when it was taken overnight.
“Someone also tried to steal the Kia in January,” Gardner said. “If it's just going to get stolen again, I'm not sure we really want it back.”
Which models are targeted?
Higher-end versions of Kia and Hyundai vehicles that come with electronic immobilizers aren't targeted by thieves as often, data from the Highway Loss Data Institute shows.
Many less expensive versions of the vehicles do not have the anti-theft devices, making them prime targets.
Data on theft claims show versions of the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Sonata were stolen the most, but other models, including Hyundai Tucsons and Kia Fortes and Optimas, also had high rates of theft.
What Kia and Hyundai are saying
Both companies acknowledged that thieves are targeting some of their vehicles that lack immobilizing anti-theft devices, in statements to IndyStar.
Kia and Hyundai also both provide free steering wheel locks to customers through select law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
The companies are developing software upgrades that will be free for impacted customers to prevent theft of the targeted vehicles. Neither company gave a firm date on when the software upgrades would be available, but stated the upgrades were coming soon.
All of Kia's 2022 models have an immobilizer, while Hyundai implemented the anti-theft feature as standard beginning in November 2021.
Hyundai owners can also bring their vehicles to a local dealership for the purchase and installation of a customized security kit. The security kit cost $170, according to Forbes.
Made in Indiana:Indiana's Toyota plant unveiled its newest SUV to the world this week. Here's a look.
How to protect your Kia and Hyundai from being stolen
Indianapolis police shared the following tips:
- Install a steering wheel locking device
- Install quality video surveillance cameras and alarms
- Install a GPS tracking device
- Leave porch lights on
- Call police regarding suspicious people
- Lock all windows and doors
- Never leave your car running
- Establish relationships with neighbors and fellow business owners
- Contact dealerships regarding anti-theft options for the vehicle
- Keep information, such as the make, model, model year, license plate and Vehicle Identification Number accessible in the event your vehicle is stolen
Anyone with information about people involved in thefts of Kia or Hyundai vehicles in Indianapolis are asked to report information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.