Kia, Hyundai thefts: How to get a free steering wheel lock in Michigan
Detroit woman thinks Kia Challenge to blame for her Hyundai theft
Gwendolyn and her son think she is the latest to be targeted by The Kia Boys - thieves in Michigan and across the country stealing Kias and Hyundais and taking them for joy rides — something they learned how to do from watching TikTok videos.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - With a spike in Kia and Hyundai thefts around the country, police around Michigan have started handing out steering wheel locks to owners.
Michigan State Police have the locks available at their posts.
MSP Metro Detroit posts:
Metro North Post
14350 10 Mile Road
Oak Park, MI 48237
Metro South Post
12111 Telegraph Road
Taylor, Michigan 48180
Other local police stations have also given away The Club locks, which have been provided by the automakers after a security flaw was exposed online. Kia and Hyundai vehicles with keyed ignitions lack an immobilizer. This makes them easy to steal with a USB cable.
Read: Hyundai owner blames 'Kia Boyz' for her stolen car
The vehicle theft problem has gotten so bad that some cities have sued the automakers. Last month, attorney generals from multiple states, including Michigan, sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demanding a recall.
MORE: Kia, Hyundai thefts prompt Michigan AG, 16 other states to demand recall
As videos showing how to steal the vehicles in seconds were posted online, thefts spiked around the country. Many of these crimes have been committed by young people who often refer to themselves as the Kia Boys.
Some thieves are joyriding in the stolen vehicles, while others are using them to commit other crimes. In the AG's letter, they cited at least eight cases where people have been killed in incidents involving the stolen vehicles.
The automakers have implemented what they say is a fix to this issue – a voluntary software update – but the AGs argue this is not enough.
These software updates extend the vehicles’ theft alarm time and require the key to be in the ignition to start the vehicle. The AGs say 15% of the affected vehicles cannot accommodate the software updates, citing a letter sent to them from Hyundai, adding that Kia has said an unspecified number of affected vehicles cannot receive the updates.