LIMA, OHI (WLIO) - Car thefts are on the rise in Ohio, but you can take some precautions to protect your vehicles.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of stolen vehicles in 2022 increased 7% nationwide over 2021 and that trend is continuing to grow in 2023. Data shows that in the first 6 months of this year, Ohio is seeing a 15% increase in thefts from the same time period the year before. Of course, Hyundai and Kia’s models are high on the list because of the TikTok video that shows how to steal them. The Lima Police Department had reports of 20 vehicles stolen or taken without consent of the owner in the last three months, which is slightly higher than normal. But officers say most thefts happen because vehicles are not locked, and people leave the keys inside or when it is cold outside, drivers leave them running and unattended while they are warming up.
“Also if they leave them running or unattended, if they run back in the house for something and they come back and their car is gone that is actually a violation and that’s an ordinance that they could be cited for,” says Lt. Matt Douglass, Lima Police Department.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, here are the top 10 vehicles reported stolen in Ohio in 2022:
- Hyundai Elantra (1,476)
- Hyundai Sonata (1,244)
- Kia Optima (900)
- Ford full size pick-up truck (887)
- Kia Sportage (833)
- Kia Forte (784)
- Chevrolet full size pick-up truck (766)
- Honda Accord (546)
- Honda Civic (503)
- Chevrolet Malibu (499)
