Seattle car thefts spike 73% over three years
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Seattle saw car thefts rise 73% between 2019 and 2022, according to police department data — but we're not the only city experiencing a surge in auto theft.
Driving the news: Major cities — from Baltimore to Cleveland to Atlanta to Chicago — saw a rise in car thefts over the same period, according to USAFacts, a nonprofit that analyzes government data.
- Many police departments, including in Seattle, are pointing to a recent TikTok trend as part of the reason for the spike,
Between the lines: The data comes from 500 police departments with the most vehicle thefts in the last five years. About one-fifth of those departments had data for 2022. USAFacts combined the data with data from the FBI, as well as statewide data for 10 states.
By the numbers: There were 468,821 total thefts reported in 2022 across all the cities with data reviewed by USAFacts.
- That's much higher than in 2021 (411,935 reported thefts), as well as in 2020 (361,550) and 2019 (318,467).
- Thefts in some areas jumped 400% from 2019 to 2022, while others rose by at least 100%, according to USAFacts.
The big picture: A number of the recent thefts were of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
- Thieves across America are stealing Hyundais and Kias in seconds mostly due to design flaws in the cars, Axios' Annalise Frank writes.
- Car thieves will break windows and remove parts of the steering column cover, then start the vehicle with a screwdriver, or a plug-in from a USB device.
- Knowledge of this tactic came from a recent challenge on TikTok, which encouraged thieves to target these vehicles.
Zoom in: In Seattle, thefts of Hyundais and Kias surged in the second half of last year.
- In June 2022, Kias and Hyundais comprised only 3% of cars reported stolen in Seattle, according to USAFacts.
- By December 2022, 31% of cars stolen were Kias and Hyundais, the website reported.
Flashback: Seattle city officials sued Hyundai and Kia earlier this year over the rise in thefts, saying the companies failed "to install a common-sense anti-theft technology."
- The city's lawsuit alleges the companies' inaction hurt public safety and drained the city's limited police resources.
The other side: In a statement to Axios Seattle, Hyundai senior group manager Ira Gabriel called the city's lawsuit "improper and unnecessary."
- Gabriel added that Hyundai has made engine immobilizers, an anti-theft measure, standard on all models since November 2021.
- Kia America similarly said its newer models and trims include immobilizers.
Latest: Both car companies released new "theft deterrent software" for more than 8 million vehicles in response to the trend.
- TikTok said in a statement to the Washington Post that it "does not condone this behavior which violates our policies and will be removed if found on our platform."