A sign of trouble on Seattle streets

As one of the final acts before the end of the year and a new group is sworn-in for 2024, the Seattle City Council this week approved a resolution calling for the federal government to help cities like Seattle facing a seemingly unstoppable wave of Kia and Hyundai thefts.

The resolution approved this week calls on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall “specific Kia and Hyundai models” and asks the feds to “require the manufacturers to install industry standard anti-theft technology.”

The plea calls as cities like Seattle have been plagued by the ease at which thieves can rip off the cars, costing citizens more money on their insurance and creating a dangerous situation for law enforcement with the stolen cars readily available to be used in other crimes from street robberies to being put to use as battering rams to burlgarlize stores and pot shops.

“The lack of immobilizer technology in some models made between 2011 and 2021 has made the vehicles vulnerable to theft,” the council’s announcement of the resolution reads. “That has negatively impacted public safety in cities across the country – including Seattle.”

Earlier this year, the Seattle Police Department said that, from 2021 to 2022, there had been a 363% increase in reports of stolen Kias and a 503% increase in reports of stolen Hyundais. SPD also began handing out free steering column locks for owners of the easily ripped-off vehicles.

The resolution was introduced by West Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold who opted not to run to keep her seat on the council after a 25-year career at Seattle City Hall.

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