There were more than 1 million vehicle thefts in the U.S. last year — What can car owners do to prevent it?

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Auto theft is a huge problem across the nation, with more than one million vehicles stolen in the U.S. last year, according to authorities.

That means a vehicle is being stolen every 32 seconds.

In Michigan, nearly 27,000 vehicles were stolen in 2022, according to the Executive Director of the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority, Chris Baldwin.

Baldwin said some of that was due to the so-called Kia Hyundai Challenge which occurred over the last few years — a viral TikTok trend that had juveniles targeting vulnerable Kia and Hyundai vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2021.

"But also, even with the technology that the manufacturers are putting into their vehicles, more organized theft rings are popping up to circumvent those safety upgrades, if you will, and they will steal vehicles that way," Baldwin told WWJ Newsradio 950's Beth Fisher.

So what can car owners do to prevent it?

"Never leave you keys in your vehicle," Baldwin urged. "Even nowadays, you know, with the key fob in the vehicle, if the car remains unlocked people can get it in and drive off in it."

"In the wintertime, don't leave your vehicle running unattended for the same purpose," Baldwin added. "If you think about it, always keep vehicles out of sight."

Baldwin also recommends parking in well-lit areas whenever possible, and leaving any valuables out of sight.