Virginia Police to Give Away Anti-Car-Theft Devices
A Virginia police department plans to host two events to give away free steering wheel locks and anti-car-theft devices.
The Arlington County Police Department, located in Arlington, Virginia, aims to give away $20,000 in anti-car-theft devices in April in response to a nationwide surge in car thefts. In Arlington County, almost 90 cars have been stolen in 2024 alone. Summer is considered the peak season for car theft.
Arlington County’s car theft increased by 32% from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, 313 cars were reported stolen. In 2022, the number rose to 412. Many politicians, Attorneys General, and police departments attribute this rise in car thefts to a 2022 viral TikTok showcasing how to steal certain models of Hyundai and Kias.
Frequently reported stolen vehicles include Hyundai and Kias, as well as Toyota Camrys and Corollas, Honda Civics, Honda Accords, and CRVs. Owners of these vehicle models may be eligible for Apple AirTags in hopes of retrieving stolen cars.
Pop-up events by police departments to give away anti-car-theft devices have become more common in the last six months. Police in Port St. Lucie, Florida gave out steering wheel locks specifically to Hyundai and Kia owners to prevent theft, according to CBS 12 News. The Memphis police department gave out 700 steering wheel locks in December of 2023 as the city saw a surge in car thefts, according to a local outlet. Washington D.C. also gave free tracking devices to drives in high crime areas to assist authorities in recovering vehicles they anticipate will be stolen.
In Maryland, the state police offered steering wheel locks to owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Fourteen state police barracks handed out free locks, according to WTOP.
While most states opt to hand out free theft protection, Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a class-action lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai arguing that the cars are too easy for thieves to break into.
