MD Police Offer Tips To Prevent Car Thefts This Winter

BALTIMORE, MD — As the holiday season arrives and the weather cools, authorities are warning drivers to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of car thefts.

This alert from the Maryland State Police and the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council comes as vehicle thefts are on the rise nationwide. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, nearly 500,000 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide in the first half of 2023, which represents an increase of more than 2 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

Maryland car theft data:

• Every 47 minutes, a vehicle is stolen in Maryland, while in the United States, on average, a vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds.
• 52 percent of vehicles stolen in the state are never recovered. In 2021, there were 11,143 vehicles stolen in Maryland while 937,936 vehicles were stolen in the United States, costing vehicle owners more than $8 billion.
• Of the vehicles stolen in Maryland, 50% had the keys still inside, 60% were left unlocked and 95% of the vehicles stolen had no anti-theft device.

In most cases, vehicles are stolen for the resale or distribution of parts, transportation purposes, and for the commission of other crimes or exportation.

Here are steps everyone can take to help prevent vehicle theft:

• Use an anti-theft device.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Put away your valuables.
• Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
• Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.

Vehicle thefts nationally have increased by more than 25 percent between 2019 and 2022. Much of this can be attributed to a surge in thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars, many of which lack an immobilizer, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The manufacturers have since offered a free security software update following a viral TikTok social media challenge that showed viewers how to hotwire the vehicles.

About 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia vehicles are eligible for the update. To see if your vehicle is eligible for the free updates, contact Hyundai online or call 1-800-633-5151. Find Kia information online or call 1-800-333-4542.

The Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council plans to combat this spike in vehicle thefts. For fiscal year 2024, the council awarded more than $3 million in grants to combat vehicle theft, carjackings and related crimes. The council also works year-round on various public awareness campaigns to show drivers how they can help reduce vehicle thefts statewide.