Over 50 cars stolen daily in King, Pierce counties in April; car thefts drop 24% statewide

PUGET SOUND, Wash. — The Auto Theft Task Force - Puget Soundreported that statewide auto thefts are down by nearly 24% so far in 2024 compared to the same time last year.

In April, 393 vehicles were reported stolen in Pierce County, while 1,148 were reported stolen in King County, which is an average of 51 per day, according toThe Auto Theft Task Force - Puget Sound.

The task force later noted in their report they're seeing a "steady decline" in the number of auto thefts. They believe this is due to several arrests of members of the Kia Boys group, who were operating throughout the region and stealing multiple cars per week.

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The task force continued to say their team is out every day working to tackle the region's auto theft problem.

They also provided the following tips to lessen your chance of becoming a victim:

• Remove or hide all valuables
• Lock your car
• Don’t leave keys or fobs inside
• Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended (exhaust in cold months makes these vehicles easy to spot)
• Use anti-theft devices (alarm, kill switch, steering wheel lock)
• Park in well-lit areas

While it's important for all vehicle owners to consider using an anti-theft device, we strongly encourage residents of apartment complexes to make this a priority because these complexes are a top target for car thieves," the Auto Theft Task Force - Puget Sound wrote. "Steering wheel locks are strongly recommended for owners of Hyundai and Kia models that are vulnerable to theft.

The Auto Theft Task Force - Puget Sound said even if you have already upgraded your software, they still suggest using a steering wheel lock as a visual deterrent. Otherwise, you may end up with a shattered window and a damaged ignition before the thief realizes your car can't be stolen.

The task force also suggests leaving a GPS tracker in your vehicle, such as an AirTag or Tile, so that you can track it if it does get stolen.

There have been 10,621 vehicles reported stolen statewide so far in 2024, which is down 23.5% from last year.