ST. LOUIS — July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. Missouri ranks in the top 10 for most cars stolen according to the National Crime Insurance Bureau.
St. Louis and St. Louis County police departments say overall car theft is down.
Car manufacturer General Motors (GM) said it's not just the car owner who needs to be vigilant but carmakers need to be vigilant as well and be proactive in updating car technology to make these less susceptible to car theft. GM said it's constantly making updates to internal tracking devices like OnStar but said you should also remember these steps to protect yourself no matter what car you drive.
Tips to protect yourself against car thieves:
- Park in well-lit areas
- Park your car in a locked garage if you can
- Don't leave any spare car keys or valuables in your car
- Consider purchasing a steering wheel lock
- Considering buying an electric vehicle, which is less likely to be stolen due to its unique parts
George Baker serves as the GM vehicle security lead and said the car manufacturer is working with law enforcement agencies around the country to try and target car thieves, including with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
"The bottom line is that the more we understand how thefts are being perpetrated, the more our engineers can determine how can we improve the next generation of product or how can we actually provide additional assistance to the product that's already in the field, so that we can all stay 2 or 3 steps ahead of the thieves," Baker said.
5 On Your Side reached out to police departments in both St. Louis and St. Louis County for year-to-date statistics on car thefts. In the city, last year there were 2605 cars stolen at this point. This year so far there's been 1702 cars stolen a 35% reduction, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
St. Louis County police told 5 On Your Side their year-to-date statistics include last year having 1117 car thefts. This year there's been 775, down 30% overall according to county police.
The National Crime Insurance Bureau says that Kia and Hyundai remain the most targeted cars for theft.
If you are a Kia and Hyundai owner, there is a settlement for you. Owners who've bought cars without an engine immobilizer which makes it more susceptible to get stolen or if you've had your Kia or Hyundai stolen must submit a claim online or by mail for money back by January 11, 2025.
Click here to find out more about the settlement.