SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A local car dealership is stepping up to stop Hyundai owners from becoming the next victim of a social media trend encouraging teens to steal cars across the country–including here in the Inland Northwest.
Spokane Hyundai is partnering with Spokane Police (SPD) and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) to host a free anti-theft software upgrade for affected Hyundai owners at their Spokane Valley location this weekend.
“This is free, and I guarantee it’s going to [take] less time and less money than getting your car stolen, and having it repaired,” said SCSO Cpl. Mark Gregory.
Spokane Hyundai General Manager Craig Fruin says there are close to 5400 Hyundais across Eastern Washington with outdated anti-theft technology that leaves them susceptible to repeated break-ins, adding that vehicles that are “push-to-start” aren’t affected.
“It’s important to us that we don’t sit back and just hope–hope is a terrible strategy–that our customers don’t fall victim to, unfortunately, what’s been transpiring,” Fruin said.
The group says they’re working together towards safer roadways in Spokane County.
“The vehicles that have been stolen in the past get driven in dangerous ways,” Gregory said. “It puts our deputies and our officers in potential danger, plus the public.”
“If we’re going to solve a crime trend, that’s what it takes,” said SPD Cpl. Nick Briggs. “It’s not just law enforcement, it’s not just the community, it’s that partnership to look at the problem in every different angle we can.”
The sheriff’s office and police department have worked together to form a task force focusing on thefts of Hyundais and Kias–one that both agencies call a success after it resulted in a handful of teenagers arrested in September, which they say has drastically reduced the number of stolen Hyundais and Kias in Spokane County.
So, what can you expect if you show up this weekend? NonStop Local KHQ cameras were able to capture one of the updates taking place–and it’s more straightforward than you might think.
A service technician plugs a little device into the car’s data port under the dashboard, which connects to an iPad via Bluetooth. Then the techs are able to start installing what’s known as an “immobilizer.”
“When you lock the vehicle with your key fob it engages the immobilizer, and if your vehicle is not unlocked with your key fob it won’t be able to be stolen,” Fruin said.
After 15 or 20 minutes, the update’s all completed–no need to get under the hood or anything–and the finishing touch: a sticker on both front windows, which serves as a seal of approval and a warning to would-be thieves.
The software upgrade event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Spokane Hyundai, located at 8801 E Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley, although Fruin says if you can’t make it this weekend you can also schedule a free appointment during regular business hours.
If you’re not sure if your car is in-need of an update, Spokane Hyundai provided NonStop Local KHQ with a full list of potentially affected Hyundai vehicles, which can be found below:
2018-2022 Accent2011-2022 Elantra2013-2020 Elantra GT2013-2014 Genesis Coupe2018-2022 Kona2020-2021 Palisade2013-2022 Santa Fe2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport2019 Santa Fe XL2011-2019 Sonata2011-2022 Tucson2012-2017 & 2019-2021 Veloster2020-2021 Venue
