WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Earlier this year, a trend went viral on Tik Tok. It shows people that there is a flaw in the security systems of some Kia and Hyundai cars, which makes them easy to steal in a matter of minutes.
Winston-Salem Police said Kia and Hyundai's continue to be stolen and it's a growing problem across the city.
Grace experienced this first hand. She lives in Winston-Salem, in what she thought was a safe neighborhood.
In early August, she said she went to go to work, and hen learned her car was gone.
"It was 5:30 in the morning, and I went up to my parking spot and my car wasn't there," said Grace. "My first thought was, maybe I parked it somewhere else, so I hit the button on my car and nothing, I hit all of the buttons, and nothing, so I just walked over the parking space and I didn't know what to do, so I just sat there because nothing's ever happened to me and I thought, What is my next step? "
Grace said she called the police and insurance company. That's where she learned about the challenge happening worldwide. She said that police told her this was likely kids stealing cars, after the Tik Tok videos went viral on how to steal them.
Now, she's heard stories from many people on a Facebook page full of victims from these crimes.
"Some people have had their car stolen two times, three times, after they've gotten it back," she said. "I found out that Kia did not install the engine immobilizers in the car."
Grace said seven days later she got a call from police, telling her that her car had been found.
"I got a call in the middle of the night from the police, they had found my car," she said. "They were in pursuit of another stolen vehicle and they led them right to where my car was in the field, so my car was in the shop for about six weeks. I got it back. I couldn't sleep."
She said she felt unsettled after everything that had happened.
"Truly, it's the most unsettling thing that's ever happened to me and I know it's a car but it was just the fact that it was gone and I didn't know where it was, so once I got it back, I kept it for about seven days, but I couldn't sleep at night and I kept having to look out my blinds to see if my car was still there," she said.
Grace said everytime she got in the car, she would see the stuff the theives left behind, and was reminded that her car, didn't feel like her anymore.
"I finally traded the car in," she said. "Now, I'm just waiting to hear back from the class action settlement suit for KIA and Hyundai because they knew this was an issue and they didn't fix it.
She said even though she traded in her car, she still feels uneasy.
"I dodn't feel safe anywhere and that might not make sense, but it's just this feeling that won't go away and It still doesn't go away," she said. "Even though I traded my car, I still am hyper-vigilant and I get nervous going into any parking lot and even at night, now I know I don't have that vulnerability, but I still feel vulnerable and I still can't sleep."
Grace said in her apartment complex, there was another Kia stolen about a month and a half before hers was.
Also, she just had a coworker say they got an alarm on their Ring camera that said be careful, because a Kia, that was locked, was stolen.
"It's the most unsettling thing and I hope I never have to go through anything like this again," said Grace.
Now she waits for court for one of the suspects in the car theft and to see what comes from the class action lawsuit against the companies.
She has even become an advocate for other drivers, with vunerable cars.
"If I see somebody driving the Kia that I had, or one that I know was on the list, if they're nearby, I tell them, 'I don't know if you're aware but just to let you know thefts are happening,' so yes, I mean if we could all be aware and let people know," she said. "If you have a Kia that is vulnerable or a Hyundai, and you can go online," she said. "They will tell you the years and what models are being stolen be aware if you can get a steering wheel lock, get a steering wheel lock."
Her advice is to buy a steering wheel lock, vibration alarms, or trade in your car.
Hyundai and Kia also launched a service campaign to prevent the thefts, where you can get free software updates to the car, which makes the theft alarm sound go from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.
Not only that, but Winston-Salem Police, in an initiative to protect the most vulnerable cars, have been handing out free steering wheel locks.
There will likely be more giveaways, so keep an eye on the departments Facebook page.
The vehciles that are affected are:
Hyundai Models: 2011–2022 Accent, 2011–2022 Elantra, 2013–2017 Elantra GT, 2013–2014 Elantra Coupe, 2011–2012 Elantra Touring, 2011–2014 Genesis Coupe, 2018–2022 Kona, 2020–2021 Palisade, 2011–2012, 2019–2022 Santa Fe, 2013–2018, 2019 Santa Fe, Santa Fe XL, 2013–2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2011–2019 Sonata, 2011–2022 Tucson, 2012–2017, 2019–2021 Veloster, 2020–2021 Venue, and 2011–2012 Veracruz.
Kia Models: 2011–2021 Forte, 2021–2022 K5, 2011–2020 Optima, 2011–2021 Rio, 2011–2021 Sedona, 2021–2022 Seltos, 2010–2022 Soul, 2011–2022 Sorento, and 2011–2022 Sportage.