Topeka Police ask community for help solving car theft crimes

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – On Thursday, the TPD took to social media to ask for public assistance in solving the crimes. According to police, this year the city has seen nearly 350 vehicle thefts and vehicle theft attempts.

Police say of those vehicle thefts, 72 were Kia or Hyundai vehicles. The TPD recommended Kia and Hyundai drivers take advantage of a Kia/Hyundai recall that works to address a security flaw.

Data from seven U.S. cities gathered by The Associated Press shows that the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts is still growing despite the companies’ efforts to fix a security flaw that was exposed on TikTok and other social media sites, which makes 8.3 million vehicles relatively easy targets for thieves.

The TPD recommended drivers:

• Never leave a vehicle running and unlocked.
• Ensure all vehicle doors and windows are closed and locked anytime you leave the vehicle, including at night.
• Invest in tracking technology such as AirTags, Tile trackers, etc.
• Install security cameras outside and point them toward your vehicle.
• Take any valuables or weapons out of your vehicle.

If you have information regarding vehicle theft, the police department asks you to contact detectives at telltpd@topeka.org. If you drive a Hyundai or Kia, you can check for recalls by clicking here .

For more local news, click here . Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts . Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.