2,500 Vehicles Stolen Last Month In King & Pierce Counties: Task Force

SEATTLE — King and Pierce counties together averaged 81 vehicles reported stolen each day in January, authorities confirmed this week. According to the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force, agencies reported more than 1,600 cars stolen in King County and 909 taken in Pierce County last month.

Those figures are slightly higher than the same time last year when King County logged 1,455 stolen vehicles to Pierce County's 905. The task force said more than 45,000 vehicles were stolen across Washington in 2022.

The latest uptick follows warnings issued around Seattle and Pierce County last year over a rapid rise in thefts of Kia and Hyundai models.

Certain vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2021 with a standard metal key are at an elevated risk for theft, due to lacking an engine immobilizer device and well-known exploits that gained popularity on social media.

Last month, Seattle's city attorney filed a lawsuit against both car manufacturers, arguing both neglected to take necessary actions to address a known public safety issue. The city attorney's office said thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles surged 363 percent and 503 percent in the Emerald City between 2021 and 2022.

The Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force urges owners of any vehicle to be vigilant and reduce their risk of becoming. target, including by:

• Removing or hiding all valuables.
• Locking your car.
• Not leaving keys or fobs inside the vehicle.
• Not leaving your vehicle running unattended (exhaust in cold months makes these vehicles easy to spot).
• Using anti-theft devices (alarm, kill switch, steering wheel lock).
• Parking in well-lit areas.

Car owners can also consider purchasing simple steering wheel locks, which officials especially recommend for Kia and Hyundai drivers at higher risk for theft.