Why work hard to steal CATs when you can steal the whole car in just a few minutes

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Several Democrat cities across the United States that have defunded their police departments are suing Kia and Hyundai due to manufacturing cars that are easily stolen.
The City of Baltimore has sued both Hyundai and Kia in federal court for producing cars that lack good anti-theft technology.

In the lawsuit, the City of Baltimore is blaming Kia and Hyundai vehicles for making up 40% of car thefts in the city.
Back in March, the city of Milwaukee sued Kia and Hyundai too for creating “nuisance levels of automobile theft” in the city.

Per WBALTV:

Baltimore City is suing Hyundai and Kia in federal court for actions the city says are fueling a “vehicular crime wave.”
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, claims the business decision by the automakers to not equip vehicles with anti-theft technology is behind the city’s massive spike in car thefts.
The increase in car jackings of Kia and Hyundai vehicles spiked after a viral TikTok challenge showed people how to use a USB cable to steal a newer model of a KIA or Hyandai.

Baltimore and Milwaukee are not the first cities to blame Kia and Hyundai for an increase in car thefts in their city.
Reported back in 2022 the city of St. Louis is suing Kia and Hyundai over “rampant car thefts.”

The crime situation in St. Louis is out of control. City officials cut the number of police officers over a year ago and the city is still short officers. 911 calls frequently take hours to answer.

But rather than deal with the rising crime rates, City Hall is preparing to sue Hyundai and Kia over the rampant car thefts.

On a personal note: Last week, my older brother and sister-in-law stopped by my home. They needed a place to park their car and a ride to an event in the city.
The parking garage tenant said they could not park their Hyundai rental in the parking garage because too many are stolen.

Car thefts have skyrocketed in St. Louis in recent months, with city leadership threatening lawsuits against Kia and Hyundai for an alleged defect that makes certain makes of the cars easier to steal.
“Our drivers probably get about five of these things a day. Just Kias and Hyundais getting stolen,” tow truck driver Mark Hartmann told KMOV last week of thefts in the city.
Auto thefts in St. Louis have doubled this year, according to KMOV. In July alone, the city averaged about 21 Kia and Hyundai theft incidents each day. That number increased to 23 thefts each day in August, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previously reported.

In August, St. Louis leaders threatened to sue Hyundai and Kia, demanding the car companies address a defect that allegedly makes stealing vehicles made before 2021 easier to steal. KMOV reported last week that plans to sue the carmakers over the city’s spike in auto thefts are still in the works.

“With this letter, the city demands that Kia and Hyundai mitigate the defective conditions providing thieves – including teenagers as young as 13 – the instrumentalities by which they are destroying property, endangering city drivers and themselves, and, in some cases, committing violent felonies,” according to the letter written Aug. 19 by City Counselor Sheena Hamilton.
 

phild

CCCUK Member
The USA is certainly the land of litigation.

I expect it'll be over here soon enough. Police , and other, cuts are already biting as car theft is not being taken seriously by our police, well not in East Sussex where a crime number is all you get.
 

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
I expect it'll be over here soon enough. Police , and other, cuts are already biting as car theft is not being taken seriously by our police, well not in East Sussex where a crime number is all you get.
I suppose the police just think well it’s insured so you will claim, job done. Same with burglary, just issue a crime number, don’t call us, we won’t call you.
 

teamzr1

Supporting vendor
Hyundai Motor America and Kia America will resolve a class-action lawsuit prompted by a surge in vehicle thefts with a settlement agreement that could be valued at $200 million, the automakers announced Friday.

The settlement covers about 9 million 2011-2022 model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the United States today, according to the companies. The cars are not equipped with push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices — which has allowed them to be stolen easily by using just a screwdriver and a USB cord, creating a recent auto-theft outbreak across the country.

The settlement will provide cash compensation to customers who incurred theft-related losses or damage that was not covered by insurance — as well as reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums and other losses, Kia and Hyundai said.

A software upgrade will also be provided to eligible owners as part of the settlement. For customers with vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade, the agreement will provide a up to $300 reimbursement for anti-theft devices.

The total settlement amount will depend on how many customers choose to participate.

The wave of Hyundai and Kia thefts began in 2021 and spread nationally, with a peak last summer, as a result of instructional videos posted on TikTok and other social media sites. Some police departments report continued rampant thefts despite the automakers’ unveiling of anti-theft software nearly three months ago.
 

phild

CCCUK Member
I suppose the police just think well it’s insured so you will claim, job done. Same with burglary, just issue a crime number, don’t call us, we won’t call you.

I think there's some truth in that. However, it allows crime to proliferate since the thieves know they will get away with it. It may also encourage vigilantism when those so minded get fed up with lack of police intervention and take the law into their own hands. Either way its a slippery slope I can't help thinking..
 

Nassau65

CCCUK Member
I think there's some truth in that. However, it allows crime to proliferate since the thieves know they will get away with it. It may also encourage vigilantism when those so minded get fed up with lack of police intervention and take the law into their own hands. Either way its a slippery slope I can't help thinking..
I say we need paul Kersey on the case.
 
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