This weekend, the Maryland State Police will offer guide wheel locks to Hyundai and Kia car owners who use a physical key to start.
The loose locks will be available at 14 Maryland State Police precincts, in addition to Rockville, College Park, Forestville and La Plata.
“It’s given on a first-come, first-served basis and you don’t want to check in. Just show up at one of those 14 state police barracks between nine a. m. and nine o’clock. m. and nine p. m. this Saturday and Sunday and we will provide you with a wheel lock in agreement with the owner,” state of Maryland. Police spokeswoman Elena Russo told WTOP.
Owners of some Hyundai and Kia models were targeted by car thieves after social media posts around 2021 showed how cars could be stolen with just a screwdriver and USB cable.
While the two companies developed software to deal with the vulnerability, the idler locks were created for owners of the more specific models.
“In Maryland, a carjacking happens every 47 minutes. That’s a lot,” Russo said.
But he also noted that 50 of the stolen cars “are stolen because the owner left the key inside,” adding that 60 of the stolen cars were unlocked at the time they were stolen.
Russo said idler locks “can have a visual deterrent effect,” but added that no matter what type of car you own, preventing vehicle theft can be as simple as “locking your car, carrying your keys or key fobs with you, hiding your valuables. “”.
Visit the MSP for more information.
As a member of the award-winning WTOP News newspaper, Kate focuses on state and local governments. She has focused on how decisions made in a council chamber or a state chamber have effects on her household. It also covers news, education, and more. .