A St. Louis man uses a security device to fight a rise in Hyundai and Kia thefts

ST. LOUIS – Hyundai and Kia thefts reached alarming rates in the St. Louis area last year, nearly 10 times higher than in previous years.

A St. Louis auto dealer is trying to combat the problem. Elliott Silk with Suntrup Automotive helped repurpose a built-in device to offer another option alongside traditional auto clubs.

According to a recent FOX News reportSilk’s team “redesigned an off-the-shelf Bluetooth switch so it could be hardwired to the car and the ignition immobilized. The driver only has to authorize it via a remote-controlled key fob while turning the steel key to start the vehicle.”

The new device is activated automatically, and its design makes it difficult for a car thief to deactivate it in time, according to the report.

Police claim the possibility of stealing a Kia or Hyundai became widely publicized by a TikTok trend earlier this year, leading to a rise in such thefts not only in St. Louis but across the country. Many believe these videos only caught attention on YouTube last year.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the International Association of Special Investigation Units sent a joint letter to YouTube’s Chief Executive Officer, Susan Wojcicki, about the trend earlier this week. The agencies urged the social media platform to post “how to” videos to be removed, which provide detailed instructions on how to steal Kia and Hyundai cars.

Last August, the St. Louis City Government office also sent letters demanding action from Kia and Hyundai, criticizing the automakers for not installing immobilizers in many of their vehicles.

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-man-repurposes-security-device-to-combat-spike-in-hyundai-kia-thefts/ A St. Louis man uses a security device to fight a rise in Hyundai and Kia thefts