ATLANTA — Atlanta police partnered with Kia for an anti-theft mobile clinic last weekend at the Atlanta Civic Center.
Eligible Kia owners who lived in the city of Atlanta were able to receive a free anti-theft upgrade.
Kia owners who weren’t eligible for the upgrade received a free steering wheel lock.
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213 Kia owners were able to receive the free software upgrade.
167 steering wheel locks were distributed.
The event was organized in partnership with Kia at the request of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and the City of Atlanta Police Department (APD).
Channel 2 Action News spoke to the Carfax Editor-In-Chief Patrick Olsen about new ways to stop people from taking cars.
“We’re left with about 5 million still needing either a software upgrade or a steering wheel lock to protect the car,” Olsen said.
So far this year, thieves took almost 2,000 Kias and Hyundais across the United States.
APD said more than 500 Kia and Hyundai owners are victims of theft.
Lawmakers blame the spike in thefts on a TikTok challenge that shows people how to hotwire their cars.
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