Any car can technically be stolen. But if you have watched the news over the last few years, there has been a trend where vehicles made by Kia and Hyundai are being stolen at a greater rate than other makes and models. People who own these vehicles have become very wary that they may be targeted for theft.
But why is this happening? Why are these cars targeted more than others?
A lack of antitheft devices
The reason isn’t the value of the cars, as Kias and Hyundais are not usually high-priced vehicles. Instead, thieves are targeting them because they don’t have certain anti theft devices that are present in other cars.
Perhaps the most common example is an immobilizer. This device stops the car from moving at all when it appears that the person starting it is using the wrong key fob. Most modern cars have this immobilizer, but the Kias and Hyundais that are being targeted do not, meaning the thieves only need basic tools.
The Kia Challenge
The second reason for this rash of theft is social media. The “Kia Challenge” became popular when people started making videos about just how easy it was to steal these cars. Other social media users would see these videos and try to replicate the results. Many of these people may not have been involved in any other criminal activity, but a social media challenge was enough to get them to break the law.
Trends like this can have major ramifications in a person’s life, especially when they are young. A criminal record can limit college and career options. Those who are facing criminal accusations must be well aware of all their defense options.