Thieves are targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department, which is urging drivers to make sure their cars are secure.
Both Hyundai and Kia offer security upgrades for susceptible vehicles, police advise.
Between April 26 and July 5, the police department said there were at least 44 reported cases of theft or attempted theft of vehicles from the two manufacturers.
Most of these cases happened west of Redwood Road between 1300 North and North Temple, the department said, and several others were reported near 1925 West North Temple.
Police said people are trying to get into the cars by breaking the door handle — often on the driver’s side — or breaking a window.
In 2023, AP News reported that millions of Hyundais and Kias “dating to the 2011 model year can be stolen easily by using just a screwdriver and a USB cord,” and a “wave of thefts began in 2021 and spread nationally as a result of instructional videos posted on TikTok and other social media sites.”
Salt Lake police also urged car owners not to leave vehicles running with no one in them, and not to leave their keys or key fobs in cars. Police also noted that thieves can use available technology to clone key fobs.