The Abington Township Police Department recently released a Community Alert concerning auto theft and a 28-minute video featuring Jan Harris of the Victim Services program.

The video is the first part of a live chat series which discuss various police-related programs and services available to our community. Residents are able to comment and ask questions during the live sessions. The full video can be found here, or you can watch an introductory segment here:

From the Community Alert:

Many communities, including Abington Township, have been affected by a recent nationwide trend involving the theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Abington Police have noticed a targeted increase in the number of thefts and attempted thefts of these vehicles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which tracks theft claims, said that the problem stems from the fact that many of the Hyundai and Kia vehicles ‘lack electronic immobilizers that prevent thieves from simply breaking in and bypassing the ignition.’

Social media platforms provide countless videos showing how these vehicles can be started and stolen using USB connection cables. Although locking your vehicle certainly helps reduce your chances of being victimized, we have seen a number of incidents where windows have been broken. In Abington, a number of cases have ended in arrests, but the problem appears wide-spread and still persists.

Hyundai and Kia have been promoting the use of Steering wheel locking mechanisms for vehicles manufactured prior to 2021. Consider using a steering wheel locking device, and/or contacting the manufacturer for ongoing vehicle security guidance. As always, if you notice any suspicious activity, please contact police.