BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Another social-media fueled challenge has spurred a rise in the theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in Pennsylvania, authorities said.
Thieves are targeting certain 2010-2021 Kia and Hyundai vehicles that use a mechanical key, not a key fob and push-button to start the car, a release from Attorney General Michelle Henry said.
- Attorney General Michelle Henry warned thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles are on the rise across Pennsylvania
- The thefts are related to a TikTok challenge targeting Kia and Hyundai vehicles
- The vehicles are vulnerable because they are missing software that would prevent them from being started without the key
The challenge encourages viewers to steal one of the affected vehicles using a USB cable — because the vehicles are missing software that would prevent them from being started without the key.
“Social media has opened so many doors and opportunities for information-sharing,” Henry said in the release. “Unfortunately, not all of those opportunities serve a positive purpose, so consumers should be aware of trends that leave them vulnerable to crime.”
While the Lehigh Valley hasn’t seen a big uptick in related thefts, it hasn’t escaped the trend completely.
“We saw only a slight rise in these types of thefts recently, more so in Northampton County as opposed to Lehigh County. However, as you can imagine, this trend is subject to change,” said David J. Mussel, supervisor of the Lehigh County Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Task Force.
"We saw only a slight rise in these types of thefts recently, more so in Northampton County as opposed to Lehigh County."David J. Mussel, supervisor of the Lehigh County Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Task Force
Mussel said the task force is partnering with the PA Auto Theft Prevention Authority to obtain wheel locks and distribute them to the public.
He said car owners who are affected can find out more information by contacting Kia at 800-333-4542 and Hyundai at 800-633-5151.
Both companies have also started pushing out software updates to resolve the issue, but consumers may need to bring their vehicle to a dealership for the update.
“I am thankful that Hyundai and Kia are already releasing the software corrections for these vehicles and for their partnership with local law enforcement to give consumers free steering wheel locks,” Henry said.
About 3.8 million Hyundais and 4.5 million Kias are eligible for the software update, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in February, noting the thefts of these vehicles have resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities.
Bethlehem Police Capt. Nicholas Lechman said the city has not seen an increase in thefts of these vehicles, but based on the nationwide trend, owners should reach out to an authorized dealer to confirm if there is a recall on the vehicle from the manufacturer to resolve these vulnerabilities.
State police Trooper Nathan Branosky said Kia and Hyundai thefts accounted for only 4% of the total number of vehicle thefts investigated last year in the Troop M coverage area – covering Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
