SALISBURY — Police in Salisbury continue to see an increase in thefts involving Kia and Hyundai passenger vehicles almost a year after both Kia and Hyundai offered a free software upgrade in an attempt to curb the theft of the cars.

According to a release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Feb. 14, 2023, both Kia and Hyundai released software upgrades around that time aimed at increasing the security of their vehicles. The free upgrade was necessary due to the companies’ vehicles being targeted for larcenies at the time.

A spokesperson for the Salisbury Police Department and the NHTSA release said the increased thefts of the vehicles was due to the lack of an immobilizer in certain vehicles from the companies, which would prevent the vehicles from being started if the correct key is not present. Since the vehicles were made without the immobilizer, thieves could simply break into the car, remove the steering wheel cover, take the ignition cylinder off and use a USB stick to turn the ignition, the spokesperson said.

That process is what appears to have happened with a 2015 Kia Optima that was found by a Salisbury officer abandoned on the side of the road. The car was found with its windows open and when the officer looked inside the plastic steering cover had been ripped off and the ignition appeared to have been broken, the spokesperson said. A witness reported seeing a “skinny black male” jump out of the car and run off.

Officers then responded to a call where the sister of the owner of the Kia wanted to report it as stolen. Police are attempting to identify the suspect in the incident, and the spokesperson said that officers are currently attempting to find any DNA that may be left in the car.

A 2013 Kia Optima was reported stolen on Friday, a 2015 Kia Soul was reported stolen on Thursday, a 2019 Kia Forte was reported stolen on Wednesday and more. Out of the 20 passenger vehicles reported as stolen during January, only four have not been a Hyundai or Kia.