Do You Own a Kia or Hyundai?

You may have heard that car thefts are on the rise, but did you know thefts of Kia and Hyundai models specifically are skyrocketing?

The Cook County sheriff in Chicago alone reported that there were 74 thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in July and August of last year, this year there have been already 642 Kia and Hyundai thefts, a major increase of 767%.

So what’s caused this drastic increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts?

There was a recent TikTok video that went viral for teaching viewers how to break into vehicles by using a USB cable. Since the video went viral, people have been taking it upon themselves to try stealing the vehicles themselves using this method. It has gone so far that people view it as a TikTok challenge, something that people can do for fun and in order to get views on their social media page.

Now, Kia and Hyundai owners are reporting vehicle thefts and there seems to be no end in sight. This has become so common that many news stations have reported on it and these carjacking TikTokers are being referred to as the “Kia Boys”.

What’s more, is that this recent trend doesn’t follow the usual carjacking trends. Oftentimes, cars are stolen and then sold for parts or shipped overseas where they’re sold. However, with this recent TikTok trend, most of the stolen vehicles are eventually recovered. A Park Forest Police officer in Milwaukee has noted that most of the cars are found and that it seems that the carjackers usually steal the vehicle, go for a joyride or commit another crime, and then eventually leave the car somewhere.

This is not only shocking, but it points to the idea that these criminals are doing this simply for the TikTok challenge, rather than to steal a car and sell it one way or another. While most of the cars are eventually recovered, personal items like wallets and purses are sometimes stolen from the vehicle, and the vehicles are always left with a broken window if the car was locked.

What Can I Do as a Kia or Hyundai Owner?

 If you own a Kia or Hyundai, you’re likely feeling frightened. This TikTok challenge is scary, despicable, and unimaginable to say the least. However, there are some steps you can take to better protect your vehicle.

1. If you’re parking somewhere at night, park near security cameras, security personnel, or well-lit areas if possible.
2. Always lock your vehicle.
3. Keep valuables out of your vehicle when you are not in it.
4. Use a GPS tracker in your vehicle. GPS trackers keep track of the real-time location of your vehicle. So if your vehicle is stolen, you can immediately get the location of your stolen vehicle to the police so they can return it to you and apprehend the criminals.

Here at LiveViewGPS, we can help you  with #4 on the above list. If you have any questions about which of our GPS trackers for cars would be best for you vehicle, give us a call at 1-888-544-0494, we’d be glad to help!

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