KALAMAZOO, Mich. — With an uptick in attempted Kia thefts reported, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) is urging Kia owners to protect their vehicles.
In the past month, KDPS said they have seen 12 attempts to steal Kias in the Kalamazoo area, with two of those being successful.
Kia models are targeted due to an ignition security vulnerability. Police say thieves break the windows of the car, then break the steering wheel column to access the ignition. The car can then be started without a key and stolen.
To address this, Kia has offered free software upgrades and devices to protect the ignition cylinder. Kia owners are encouraged to take advantage of this to best protect their vehicle.
In addition, police are recommending a window decal warning that the car is protected by an anti-theft device, as thieves may not realize the car is protected until after they have broken the windows and caused damage. Police say some dealerships are offering these decals.
"Our primary concern is the safety and security of our community," said Zach Hamelton, public information officer for KDPS. "We are working diligently to address this issue and encourage all Kia owners to take preventive action to protect their vehicles."
Police nationwide have been working to stop the theft of certain Kia and Hyundai models since 2022, when a trend on TikTok garnered millions of views.
Anyone with information on these attempted thefts should contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 269-337-8139 or call the Kalamazoo Silent Observer tip line at 269-343-2100, the “P3Tips” app, or online at www.KalamazooSilentObserver.com.
