The auto theft stats for January 2024 are in. There were 544 vehicles reported stolen in Pierce County and 1,393 reported stolen in King County. That’s an average of about 62 per day.
We continue to see a steady decline in the number of auto thefts. We believe this is due, in part, to several key arrests of “KiaBoys” who were operating throughout the region and stealing numerous vehicles each week.
Our team is out there every day working to tackle our region’s auto theft problem, but there are also things you can do to lessen your risk of becoming a victim:
- Remove or hide all valuables
- Lock your car
- Don’t leave keys or fobs inside
- Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended (exhaust in cold months makes these vehicles easy to spot)
- Use anti-theft devices (alarm, kill switch, steering wheel lock)
- Park in well-lit areas
While it’s important for all vehicle owners to consider using an anti-theft device, we strongly encourage residents of apartment complexes to make this a priority because these complexes are a top target for car thieves. Steering wheel locks are strongly recommended for owners of Hyundai and Kia models that are vulnerable to theft. Even if you have already upgraded your software, we still suggest using a steering wheel lock as a visual deterrent. Otherwise, you may end up with a shattered window and a damaged ignition before the thief realizes your car can’t be stolen. Multiple theft attempts are reported each day.
We also suggest leaving a GPS tracker, such as an Air Tag or Tile, in your vehicle so that you (we) can track it if it does get stolen.
There have been 3,197 vehicles reported stolen statewide so far in 2024. This is down 21% from last year.
