Why Are Kia Optimas Being Stolen

(WCMH) Do you own a Kia or Hyundai from the most recent ten years? If so, your vehicle is a target for thieves. Because of the way they are constructedwithout a push-button startKias created in 2011 and later and Hyundais made in 2015 or later are desirable targets for thieves.

According to Rick Ricart of Ricart Automotive in Columbus, Ohio, “if it takes a key to turn the ignition, it’s an easy, literally a USB port could even be inserted in and twisted to start the automobile.

Why do Kia vehicles get stolen?

More children being out of school and a design weakness in some newer models of Kia and Hyundai cars, according to Milwaukee officials, are the two main causes of the rise in auto thefts.

How can I prevent theft of my Kia?

Investigation revealed the what and the why, and after that, Ricart said, “we started making sure that none of those vehicles were left out at night or left alone, and we were parking them inside.

Ricart suggests the following three measures to keep your automobile from being stolen:

  • Park within
  • Lock your car.
  • Purchase an immobilizer.

Additionally, Ricart claimed that the makers of these cars are aware of the issue that makes them targets and are looking for workable remedies.

Are Kia vehicles simple to steal?

Tennessee: MEMPHIS

In Memphis, thefts of two specific car manufacturers are on the upswing. The principal targets are Hyundai vehicles made after 2015 and Kia models made after 2011.

They are the easiest cars to steal, according to experts, but there are techniques to deter criminals.

“How could someone steal something that someone has worked so hard to earn? said Tyler Stitt.

Stitt claimed that after returning from work last month, his Kia Optima was gone when he awoke the following morning.

“There were several Kias on the impound lot when I went there. While my wife and I were out there, they even pulled in a Kia that was still functioning. Stitt said that they had dumped.

It’s not just him. According to Memphis police, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, particularly key start models, have increased recently.

The steering column is taken apart, and the thieves use force to override the ignition.

The steering column is peeled off of these Hyundais and Kias, a phone charger is installed, and this bypasses the key’s chip. The man on the video added, “And look at this: That gave me ACC. Fire in the hole, keep an eye on this.

After videos on social media platforms like TikTok demonstrated how simple it is to hotwire cars, the trend spread across the country.

“The steering column is completely destroyed. In the backseat, they peed. Alena Clark informed FOX13 that the driver’s side tires are completely destroyed since the wheel was split before they stopped.

We’re looking at $5,000 right now, not even accounting for body injury,” Clark said.

And to make matters worse, according to Clark, the suspects used her car to perpetrate other crimes.

“They forced a man to give up his wallet before taking money from his bank account. Then, according to Clark, used that money to post bond.

Benni Cobb, a retired captain with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, advised getting a steering wheel lock to deter burglars.

Cobb advised getting a steering wheel lock and placing it over the steering column to prevent theft and breakage.

“You can purchase a GPS tracking device. That comes after the event, of course. Cobb advised installing a motion detector in your car to actually alert you if someone enters.

Memphis police ask that you contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH if you see someone committing a crime on TikTok or any other social media app.

Install the FOX13 Memphis app to get notifications of breaking local news.

What models of Kia are being stolen?

According to Madison police, the nationwide and local theft spree of Kia and Hyundai vehicles continued this week.

Due to a manufacturing flaw that makes them simple to steal, Kia models that are newer than 2011 and Hyundai models that are newer than 2015 are the vehicles that are most frequently targeted. At the start of this year, both automakers claimed that modifications had been made to stop this kind of theft.

A guest reported his rental automobile taken at a motel in the 400 block of Commerce Avenue on the Far West Side at around 7:20 a.m. on Monday, according to a statement from police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer.

Fryer said that there was broken glass on the ground close to where the car had been parked.

Which car is the simplest to steal?

Do you see a pattern here? Toyota Camrys are no exception to the rule that the most popular cars are the ones that thieves target the most. Criminals who steal the autos and sell the universal parts for a profit find their universal parts to be catnip. Beware if you drive a 2007 model: The most frequently stolen model last year was the 2007 Toyota Camry.

  • Stolen items total 15,656.
  • A popular model is the 2007

Which keyless vehicles are stolen the most?

Any vehicle with keyless access puts the community at risk for criminality. Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, and Ford Focus are just a few of the well-known vehicles that have been determined to be unsafe.

Which cars are most frequently stolen?

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) identifies the top 10 most stolen cars in America for 2020 in its annual “Hot Wheels” report. The Ford full-size pickup truck was the most stolen car in the US for the second consecutive year, despite a sharp rise in thefts from 2019. The second most stolen vehicle in America in 2020, surpassing the Honda Civic’s ranking from 2019, was the full-size Chevrolet truck.

I don’t have a key, how can I start my Kia?

Great midsize SUVs include the Kia Sorento. A ton of useful technological elements are also included in it. But you’re in the right place if you’re asking how to start this without a key fob. To find the answers for you, we conducted the research.

Step on the brake pedal and push the Start/Stop button on the engine until the Kia Sorento starts. This may be done without a keyfob.

The Kia Sorento provides you with the ease of starting the engine without having to panic and scramble for your keys, thanks to its user-friendly technology. If you want to know more about starting the Kia Sorento without the key fob, keep reading.

How are keyless automobiles taken?

Two little boxes of electronics are all that are needed for keyless theft, also known as relay theft, for burglars to quickly unlock your automobile in as little as 60 seconds.

Typically, thieves will steal relays in pairs, with one holding an amplifier and the other a transmitter. Typically, they will target a home with a desirable car in the driveway, and their tools will enable them to ascertain whether the vehicle has keyless access.

The signal sent by your key is captured by the relay amplifier. One of the burglars will circle your home’s outside walls with an amplifier in an effort to pick up the keyless key’s signal.

The car will be tricked into thinking the rightful owner is nearby when an accomplice stands by it and their receiver detects and mimics the amplified signal from the key, causing the vehicle to be unlocked and driven away.

Why do auto thieves do it?

10% of all reported car thefts are fake, according to statistics. Because they can no longer afford the obligatory vehicle loan payments or because they want to mislead their insurance company for financial advantage, vehicle owners may stage a fake theft of their vehicle. Therefore, a portion of what is thought to be an issue with vehicle crime may actually be a problem with insurance fraud (Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Statistical Analysis Center, 2004).

General Description of the Problem

One of the most frequent complaints to the police in residential areas is theft from parked cars. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show that 36% of all reported larcenies fall into this category. Property crimes in particular and all crimes in general are frequently underreported to the police. As a result, the issue might be more serious than the data provided by the police indicate. A nationwide survey conducted in the United Kingdom revealed that just 47% of all car crimes were reported to the police. In contrast, almost all car thefts are reported to the police due to the large financial loss and reporting obligations of the insurance companies.

Police departments across the nation use a variety of terms to describe thefts from cars, including “vehicle burglaries,” “vehicle larcenies,” “car cloutings” (St. Louis), and “car prowls.”

In terms of the worth of the items taken, thefts from automobiles typically have low financial amounts, but they consume a significant amount of police time and raise public safety concerns. With the exception of these thefts, suburban residential districts have minimal crime. However, frequent car thefts in a neighborhood can undermine people’ perceptions of safety and security as well as their trust in the police and other authorities.

Car thefts are a substantial crime concern in many suburban regions, despite generally being a more serious issue in metropolitan areas. Cars are typically stolen for one of three reasons: (1) temporary transit, such as use in another crime or “joyriding”; (2) stripping the car of its valuable pieces for resale; or (3) reselling it, frequently under the pretext of a real car. The great majority of car thefts are carried out for “joyrides” or for transit. 1 Along with increased insurance costs, inconvenience, and monetary losses for car owners, stolen vehicles also pose a threat to the safety of law enforcement personnel and other drivers during pursuits.

Factors Contributing to Thefts of and from Cars on Residential Streets and Driveways

You may better construct your own local analytic questions, choose effective effectiveness measurements, identify critical intervention spots, and choose appropriate responses if you are aware of the contributing factors to your situation. The two most important elements that present opportunities for thieves are probably where and when cars are parked.

Location

in single-family homes. Residents of suburban residential neighborhoods may lose concern for car security due to the areas’ comparatively calm and safe environment. They can leave the keys in the ignition or the car doors unlocked. Their outside illumination is frequently completely insufficient. Thieves may hide under overgrown bushes and other vegetation on the property. An entire neighborhood of open cars and dimly lighted, well-hidden dwellings makes for an appealing scene for thieves.

on the sidewalk. According to data from the National Crime Survey, 37% of car thefts happen on the street in front of the victim’s house. 2 As can be seen in Table 1, a study done in the UK found that a car parked on the street is considerably more likely to be targeted by criminals than a car parked in a driveway. 3 Hampshire (United Kingdom) police found that the pattern was even more concentrated within those streets, with over half of all car offences in Portsmouth occurring on just 10% of the city’s streets. 4

Cars are typically more vulnerable in residential areas close to lower-class socioeconomic neighborhoods (which frequently have higher crime rates). Residents of the high-crime areas just need to travel a short distance to look for valuables or vehicles to steal. They benefit from having local knowledge of the place.

housing subdivisions. Chronic auto crime is less likely to occur in residential subdivisions that are bordered by rural areas and are not served by public transportation. Thieves would have to go to the destination and then wander around in strange districts, where they are more likely to stand out and raise suspicion. Additionally, these locations frequently lack sidewalks, drawing attention to foot traffic in general.

Time

In suburban residential neighborhoods, car thefts and car break-ins typically happen at night. This is due to the fact that at that time the majority of cars are in these locations and that the darkness gives the thieves shelter. Parking lots in residential areas with multi-family apartment buildings may be targeted by thieves during the day since so many people use them, giving the burglars cover. Some big occasions that bring a lot of cars to a place also lead to a lot of car thefts. 5

Items Targeted for Theft

Thefts from autos frequently happen in groups. When one or many burglars have walked through a neighborhood in the early morning hours seeking for property to steal, there may be many larcenies that are reported. Personal items and car parts are the two types of property that are stolen most frequently. Loose coins, laptop computers, portable music players, and wallets or pocket books are examples of personal belongings that owners might leave in their vehicles. According to the United Kingdom Home Office, stereo components made up 27% of the stolen items, while personal valuables found in the passenger compartment made up 35% of the total. 6 At used music stores or pawnshops, it’s simple to exchange compact discs for cash as well as car stereo components and accessories. Due to the fact that few owners bother to keep track of the serial numbers of aftermarket radio parts, these products can also be challenging to locate. Targeted auto parts undergo alteration as certain features increase in value. Stereo equipment was formerly a target, but today air bags and pricey components like xenon or high-intensity discharge lights are sought after. Each year, airbag thefts are reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in excess of 75,000 cases. 7 Thefts of personal things from autos often use different methods than thefts of cars for components or resale. 8

The Nissan Maxima was most frequently targeted for theft of its high-intensity discharge headlamps in 2003, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.