KEEP YOUR HYUNDAI OR YOUR KIA SAFE. FOR KATHLEEN FRANKENBERGER COMING TO GET A FREE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE WAS A NO BRAINER BECAUSE SHE KNOWS FIRSTHAND JUST HOW COMMON CAR THEFTS ARE. MY CAR WAS STOLEN. THAT WAS BACK IN AUGUST. POLICE FOUND HER CAR AN HOUR’S AND MISS FRANKENBERGER GOT THE KEY. A SOFTWARE UPDATE RIGHT AWAY. BUT SHE SAYS IT’S A STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS AN EXTRA STEP, A VISUAL SIGN TO KEEP THIEVES AWAY. YOU CAN’T GET IN HERE AND TAKE MY CAR AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE I WAS. I’D BE SAFER. DETECTIVE TREY CORBIN WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE SAYS MS. FRANKENBERGER HAS THE RIGHT IDEA. WITH CAR THEFTS UP 189% FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR IN THE COUNTY, KIA AND HYUNDAI, OWNERS NEED ALL THE PROTECTION THEY CAN GET. THAT MEANS SOFTWARE UPDATES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. IT’S NOT ONLY A VISUAL DETERRENT BECAUSE THEY’RE BRIGHT YELLOW, BUT THIS ALSO A PHYSICAL DETERRENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE SYSTEM ON THERE, IT PREVENTS THE WHEEL FROM TURNING. SO THE CRIMINALS ARE NOT ACTUALLY ABLE TO START AND TURN THE VEHICLE’S STEERING WHEEL. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HOPING THAT WITH THE TWO PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN THEIR PLACE THAT WE ACTUALLY PREVENT SOME OF THESE AUTO THEFTS. THAT’S WHY TUESDAY, BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE HANDED OUT DOZENS OF FREE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS TO HYUNDAI AND KIA OWNERS AT STEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER IN ESSEX. YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, RIGHT? WELL, THIS IS A PROBLEM. SO GET IT SOLVED BY PUTTING ONE OF THESE ON. MISS FRANKENBERGER SURE HOPES THAT’S TRUE. SO SHE DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I’M BEING EXTRA CAREFUL. AND ANOTHER TIP FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE. WITH THE COLD WEATHER COMING IN, MAKE SURE YOU DON’T LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED WHILE YOU’RE WARMING IT UP. THAT’S AN EASY WAY FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND STEAL YOUR CAR IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO COME TO ONE OF THESE WHEEL LOCK POP UP EVENTS, YOU CAN COME BY BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND PICK UP A WHEEL LOCK ANYTIME MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. DURING NORMAL BUSINE
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Baltimore County police push software updates, steering wheel locks to prevent car thefts
Kia owner vows to keep car safe: ‘You can’t get in here and take my car again’
Updated: 6:08 PM EDT Oct 31, 2023
Baltimore County police are trying to cut the number of car thefts by distributing steering wheel locks. County police on Tuesday gave out dozens of steering wheel locks to owners of Kia and Hyundai cars at the Stembridge Community Center in Essex.Kathleen Frankenberger said she jumped at the chance to get a free steering wheel lock for her Kia because she knows firsthand just how common car thefts are. “My car was stolen,” Frankenberger said. Frankenberger’s car was stolen in August, and police found it within hours. Frankenberger got the Kia software update right away, but she said a steering wheel lock is an extra step, a visual sign to deter thieves. “You can’t get in here and take my car again. I feel like I’ll be safer,” said Frankenberger.Baltimore County police Detective Trae Corbin said Frankenberger has the right idea. According to police, auto thefts are up 189% from this time last year in Baltimore County. So, Kia and Hyundai owners need all the protection they can get, which includes getting the software update and a steering wheel lock. “It’s not only a visual deterrent because they are bright yellow, but it’s also a physical deterrent because when you unlock the system on there, it prevents the wheel from turning. So, the criminals are not actually able to start and turn the vehicle’s steering wheel,” said Corbin. “That’s what we are hoping, that (with) the two preventative measures in place, that we actually prevent some of these automotive thefts.” Frankenberger said she hopes a steering wheel lock keeps her from having the same problem again. “I am being extra careful,” Frankenberger said.Baltimore County police are also reminding people not to leave their cars unattended while it warms up on cold days because that’s an easy way for people to steal the car. Baltimore County residents who have not made it out to the police department’s wheel lock pop-up events can pick up a steering wheel lock at Baltimore County police headquarters on weekdays during normal business hours.
Baltimore County police are trying to cut the number of car thefts by distributing steering wheel locks.
County police on Tuesday gave out dozens of steering wheel locks to owners of Kia and Hyundai cars at the Stembridge Community Center in Essex.
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Kathleen Frankenberger said she jumped at the chance to get a free steering wheel lock for her Kia because she knows firsthand just how common car thefts are.
“My car was stolen,” Frankenberger said.
Frankenberger’s car was stolen in August, and police found it within hours. Frankenberger got the Kia software update right away, but she said a steering wheel lock is an extra step, a visual sign to deter thieves.
“You can’t get in here and take my car again. I feel like I’ll be safer,” said Frankenberger.
Baltimore County police Detective Trae Corbin said Frankenberger has the right idea. According to police, auto thefts are up 189% from this time last year in Baltimore County. So, Kia and Hyundai owners need all the protection they can get, which includes getting the software update and a steering wheel lock.
“It’s not only a visual deterrent because they are bright yellow, but it’s also a physical deterrent because when you unlock the system on there, it prevents the wheel from turning. So, the criminals are not actually able to start and turn the vehicle’s steering wheel,” said Corbin. “That’s what we are hoping, that (with) the two preventative measures in place, that we actually prevent some of these automotive thefts.”
Frankenberger said she hopes a steering wheel lock keeps her from having the same problem again.
“I am being extra careful,” Frankenberger said.
Baltimore County police are also reminding people not to leave their cars unattended while it warms up on cold days because that’s an easy way for people to steal the car.
Baltimore County residents who have not made it out to the police department’s wheel lock pop-up events can pick up a steering wheel lock at Baltimore County police headquarters on weekdays during normal business hours.