39 cars stolen in 1 day in Pierce County; Hyundai, Kia owners urged to take action

The Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force is issuing a warning to car owners in Pierce County, as it announced Thursday that 39 cars were stolen in the county on Wednesday, 20 of which were Hyundai or Kia models.

The task force is urging owners of Hyundais or Kias produced from 2011 to 2021 who use a standard metal key to turn-start their car to take steps to prevent theft, such as using anti-theft devices like a steering wheel lock.

According to the task force, which is a multi-agency cooperative effort in King and Pierce counties, thieves have learned how to start such vehicles from videos that have circulated on social media.

The task force said while it does recover many stolen vehicles, they are often found in undriveable condition or have extensive damage.

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