Newton Police Department warns owners of Kia vehicles to take precautions

Newton Police Department has joined other law enforcement in Central Iowa communities in warning residents — specifically owners of Kia vehicles — to take extra precautions because of recent thefts. In a March 27 press release, the police department said thieves are bypassing factory-installed security features.

Specifically, thieves are breaking into vehicles by exploiting vulnerabilities in the ignition system. Local law enforcement said surveillance footage has been collected from several of the recent theft locations in town, and investigators are working diligently to identify those responsible.

Anyone with information regarding these recent thefts should contact the Newton Police Department or your local law enforcement agency.

Law enforcement has also recommended the following preventative measures:

• Always park in well-lit, high-traffic areas.

• Install steering wheel locks or other anti-theft devices.

• Ensure that all doors and windows are locked when the vehicle is unattended.

• Consider installing a GPS tracking device to increase the likelihood of recovery.

• Report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood to local law enforcement.

In January 2024, news agencies reported that certain models of Kia and even Hyundai vehicles saw a huge increase in thefts in the past few years. Reports from WLBT3 in Mississippi show the City of Jackson filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai for failing to install anti-theft technology in their vehicles for years.

Colfax Police Department reported that a silver 2020 Hyundai Elantra with the license plate IMP046 was stolen from Cherry Street. Members of the online neighborhood watch groups had also reported stolen Kia vehicles