Vehicle theft is on the rise in multiple major U.S. cities, with two car brands contributing to much of the increase, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Automobile thefts are up 33.5% in 32 large cities in the U.S. during the first six months of 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, with the theft of Kias and Hyundais leading the pack, according to the WSJ. The increase in vehicle thefts started occurring after widely publicized social media videos showing the ease of stealing the vehicles spread all over the internet.
“The year-to-year increase is due to the fact of how easy the Kias and Hyundais are to steal,” Sgt. Garrett Parten of the Minneapolis Police Department told the WSJ. (‘Tired Of The Gunshots’: Black Americans Are Fleeing Crime-Ridden Blue Cities)
Today I joined @IMPDnews and @IndyCouncil to announce the City’s participation in a national lawsuit against automotive makers Kia and Hyundai, seeking reimbursement for public safety costs associated with vehicle thefts caused by a lack of anti-theft safeguards. pic.twitter.com/6U0tX7ORgQ
— Mayor Joe Hogsett (@IndyMayorJoe) July 19, 2023
Some cities across the country such as Seattle, Portland, and Cleveland have filed lawsuits against Kia and Hyundai due to the ease of theft of their vehicles causing an increase in vehicle-related crime. The car manufacturers recently settled a $200 million class-action lawsuit by car owners, according to the WSJ.
The company is working on ways to fix the mass theft, such as installing antitheft software at dealerships, a Hyundai spokesperson told the WSJ.
“Hyundai is committed to the comprehensive actions we are undertaking to assist customers and communities affected by the persistent theft of certain vehicles not equipped with push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers,” a spokesperson for Hyundai told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Kia did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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