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Minneapolis Kia proprietor victimized thrice in six months
Native legislation enforcement officers have warned individuals within the Metro in regards to the enhance in Kia and Hyundai thefts, which follows a nationwide development. A Minneapolis lady says she’s been a goal a number of occasions. There’s nothing fairly like strolling out the entrance door to seek out that one’s automobile has been focused. Lauren Hernandez is aware of that feeling all too nicely. Within the final seven months, it is occurred not as soon as, not twice, however thrice.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) – Native legislation enforcement officers have warned individuals within the Metro in regards to the enhance in Kia and Hyundai thefts, which follows a nationwide development. A Minneapolis lady says she’s been a goal a number of occasions.
There’s nothing fairly like strolling out the entrance door to seek out that one’s automobile has been focused. Lauren Hernandez is aware of that feeling all too nicely. Within the final seven months, it is occurred not as soon as, not twice, however thrice.
She’s sharing her story with FOX 9 as a result of she desires different car homeowners to pay attention to the state of affairs earlier than it occurs to them.
Hernandez was as soon as a giant cheerleader for Kias, however her persistence is carrying skinny.
“I am positively not going to lease a Kia or Hyundai once more,” Hernandez stated. “And I used to be a very loyal buyer. Like, I used to be referring individuals left and proper as a result of I cherished my automobile a lot.”
Her story started final December, when her leased 2019 Kia Soul was stolen from her condo parking zone in south Minneapolis. That automobile was by no means recovered.
It was then that Hernandez first discovered of legislation enforcement’s warnings across the nation that Kias and Hyundais are simple to steal as a result of they lack an digital safety system known as an engine immobilizer.
“That (Kia Soul) was leased, and I had a deposit down on one other Kia arising. So I re-leased with Kia with the promise that engine immobilizers had been now of their new autos, and so I felt fairly safe making that selection once more,” she defined.
However she now regrets that selection. Her second automobile, a 2022 Kia Seltos, was damaged into in March after which stolen in June.
“I’m nonetheless actually, actually paranoid,” she stated. “We might joke that lightning wouldn’t strike thrice, however I simply really feel tremendous unfortunate.”
The police had been capable of get better the Seltos in St. Paul because of the Apple AirTag monitoring system she left inside. However she spent a month this summer season with no automobile.
“(The Kia Seltos) really spent like greater than 30 days in repairs as a result of the store that I went to had so many stolen Kias that they could not get elements in time to repair mine,” Hernandez stated.
Police have suggested Kia and Hyundai homeowners to spend money on steering wheel locks to assist forestall the thefts. Hernandez instructed FOX 9 she put a steering wheel lock on her second Kia, and the thieves had been capable of take it proper off.
After paying three insurance coverage deductibles, she’s now fearful that her insurance coverage firm will drop her as a result of she’s an excessive amount of of a legal responsibility.
“Waking up within the morning and simply going downstairs and never seeing it’s the worst feeling ever as like somebody that this has occurred to greater than as soon as,” Hernandez stated. “I really swapped automobiles with my fiancé’s dad and mom in order that they might hold the Kia in a storage till we’re capable of transfer and get a storage as a result of I do not really feel comfy parking it across the Twin Cities proper now.”
Earlier this week, Kia instructed FOX 9 in a press release, “As of the present 2022 Mannequin Yr, all Kia autos have an engine immobilizer fitted as customary.” Hernandez’s second automobile that was stolen was a 2022 mannequin, so FOX 9 reached out to Kia to ask how that might be, however the firm has not responded to our query.
Right here’s Kia’s full assertion from Monday:
“Kia America is conscious of the rise in car thefts of a subset of trim degree autos in your space. As of the present 2022 Mannequin Yr, all Kia autos have an engine immobilizer fitted as customary. All Kia autos on the market within the U.S. meet or exceed Federal Motor Automobile Security Requirements. Kia clients with questions concerning their Kia car ought to contact the Client Help Heart immediately at 1-800-333-4542 (4Kia).
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