Alerts of a Kia Sportage theft were sent out to the Fisher community on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The theft, which took place in T-lot next to Founders residence hall, was the first of its kind on campus.
Safety and Security officers were dispatched to S-lot for suspicious activity at 5:05 a.m. on Tuesday morning. According to the Office of Safety and Security, the theft took only three minutes to complete and the suspects left campus by 5:08 a.m., leaving two other previously stolen vehicles behind in place of the Kia Sportage. This theft comes after a multi-year increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts in the local Rochester area. Since the start of these occurrences, the Office of Safety and Security has taken steps to prevent such crimes on campus.
Students were first made aware of Kia and Hyundai thefts in Jan. 2023, when the former Director of Campus Safety and Security Brock Glann notified the campus community via email. The email stated, “Some Kia and Hyundai SUV’s are missing an essential anti-theft device, making them an easy target for car thieves. The vehicles lack an electronic security device that immobilizes their engines, preventing the car from being started without the correct key. Kia’s made between 2010 and 2022 and Hyundai’s made between 2015 and 2022 don’t have engine immobilizers. As a result, thieves are able to start the vehicle with very simple tools.”
The increase in these thefts surged after a popular TikTok trend exposed a security flaw in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, allowing these vehicles to be stolen using just a screwdriver or USB cord. In response to these thefts, the St. John Fisher Office of Safety and Security currently has steering wheel locks – or “car clubs” – which are available and free of charge to all students, staff, and faculty who own Kia or Hyundai vehicles.
In addition to offering steering wheel locks, the current Director of Campus Safety and Security Russell Reynolds offered other alternatives to prevent thefts in his email alert to campus on Tuesday. The email states:
Lock your car
Keep windows and sunroofs closed and doors locked. Almost one-fourth of thefts from vehicles are from unlocked cars.
Activate your vehicle’s alarm
Don’t have one? Factory-installed anti-theft systems are best, but a professionally installed alarm can also discourage a car break-in.
Hide your valuables
Keep any valuables out of sight – either with you or in a locked trunk. Avoid placing items in the glove box as they are easy to break into. Never leave your purse or wallet in your vehicle.
Don’t hand a thief your keys
Take your keys or key fob with you. In most cars, when the key fob is left in the car, it will not lock or remain locked. Additionally, do not leave a spare key in your car.
Trust your instincts
If you see suspicious activity, call Safety and Security at (585) 385-8111. If you see someone in your car, do not approach them and call 911 immediately.
For additional information regarding Kia and Hyundai steering wheel locks on campus, contact the Office of Safety and Security at [email protected].
