The Apple Air Tag can be used to locate a stolen vehicle, but San Antonio police urge caution when wielding the technology’s power.
HANDOUT/Apple Inc./AFP via Getty Images

San Antonio Express-News  
Jacob Beltran, Staff writer
May 2, 2023Updated: May 2, 2023 7:16 p.m.

Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been stolen so frequently that New York City is giving away Apple AirTags to deter thefts in its communities.

And while recent data shows that auto thieves in San Antonio also are targeting those makes, local police advise discretion in the use of Apple’s technology, which enables people to locate whatever the devices are attached to using a mobile app.

Instead, victims of vehicle thefts are urged to report such crimes as soon as possible, said officer Ricardo Guzman, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department. The sooner a vehicle is reported stolen, the sooner officers can start looking for it.

Meanwhile, if a person finds a stolen vehicle independently from law enforcement, the police should be called immediately with that information.

The SAPD recommends that people not confront potential suspects, saying that doing so could result in harm.

On March 29, police said, a man who sought to retrieve his stolen pickup on the Southeast Side fatally shot the person accused of stealing it, claiming that the person he confronted pulled out a gun. Police said an encounter like that should not have happened.

In March, Kia models topped the list of most stolen cars, with five models among them — Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio and Sportage. Hyundais also appeared on the list with the Sonata and Elantra, which was the most stolen vehicle. The Ford F-series trucks were the second-most stolen vehicles.

San Antonio police said certain online videos on social media may be contributing to the increase in vehicle thefts, demonstrating how to steal Kia and Hyundai model cars that were designed without an engine immobilizer, an electronic security device that prevents a car from being started without the correct key.

In recent weeks, police have been directing people who own Hyundai vehicles to the automaker’s free anti-theft software upgrade campaign. Thirteen models are eligible for the upgrade, spanning different model years, some as far back as 2011.

Motor vehicle theft was up 59 percent overall, with 4,292 reported thefts reported from January to March, up from 2,697 thefts reported during the same period last year, according to the department’s uniformed crime report data.

Guzman also warned that vehicle thefts can occur anywhere at any time of day. Such thefts and vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity.

People can take these steps to make breaking into their vehicles less appealing:

• Lock your car. About 60 percent of vehicles stolen are unlocked.
• Take your keys. Never hide a second set of keys in or on your vehicle, as they are easily found.
• Hide your belongings from sight to avoid attracting thieves.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
• Do not leave firearms in your vehicle.
• Park in well-lit areas or attended lots.
• Park in secure locations like a garage or parking structure.
• Never leave your vehicle running, even if you expect to be away from it for a matter of minutes or seconds.

jbeltran@express-news.net