The dangerous practice of Car thefts, notably Hyundai and Kia models, has increased by 19% in New York this year, according to the city’s police department earlier this week. “We have seen double-digit increases, it’s simply not acceptable,” said Police Commissioner Edward Caban, during a press conference. “Most of us know someone who has had their car stolen. We understand that for those who have unfortunately experienced this crime, it is an invasion of your space. Our vehicles are often extensions of ourselves and our homes.”
According to reports, around 10,600 car thefts have been reported in the city’s five boroughs (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island), a significant rise from approximately 9,000 thefts reported during the same period the previous year. In response to the issue, Mayor Eric Adams stated, “We are going to take the wheel of this crisis and drive it and put it on the right path.”
New York City has filed a lawsuit against South Korean automakers
While automobile thefts are on the rise, New York City stated earlier this year that it was suing South Korean automakers for producing vehicles that are too simple to steal. New York said that the automaker failed to put anti-theft equipment known as immobilizers on the majority of their vehicles between 2011 and 2022, making them simple to steal. The City intends to “hold the two companies accountable” through the lawsuit. Notably, New York City has joined cities such as Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Seattle in suing South Korean automakers.
The increase in thefts was observed after a TikTok challenge- Kia Boys
Notably, Hyundai is Kia’s parent firm, although the two companies function independently. The increase in thefts was observed after a TikTok challenge appeared last year in which clout-chasing influencers targeted Kia and Hyundai vehicles that still use mechanical keys rather than computerized systems. The absence of anti-theft systems made the vehicles more prone to theft. The challenge encouraged app users to take advantage of the situation and steal the cars with little gear. The robbers broadcast footage of themselves snatching the cars on the ByteDance-owned platform with the hashtag “Kia Boys.”
