SEATTLE — Car thefts are trending down statewide but the King County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers to stay vigilant as vehicle thefts and break-ins are still happening daily.
Sargent Eric White of the King County Sheriff’s Office practices what he preaches. He’s equipped his personal vehicles with one of these remote trackers – an Apple AirTag.
“If you do use that we ask that you hide it in a place in your car that no one knows about but you," White said. "You want to put it in such a place. That is when it starts to beep – if someone steals your car they can’t hear it. They can’t find it."
From high-tech solutions to a simple bar across the steering wheel the King County Sheriff’s Office, alongside other agencies, is reminding the public to protect their vehicles this summer driving season.
"A lot of times the best technology is very simple,” White said.
Last year King County prosecutors filed 622 charges for vehicle theft. There have been 285 this year. A spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office said they are on pace to surpass last year's numbers.
Overall, statewide, the number of vehicle thefts is trending down. In May the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force reported a 23.5% percent decrease in vehicle thefts.
They credit the dip in thefts to the arrest of several so-called “Kia Boys” – a group of young people accused of leveraging a design flaw in Kias and Hyundais – that at one point in 2021 and 2022 led to a 500% increase in stolen Kias.
Despite the recent decline they want drivers to be aware of what makes their vehicle a target and should something happen never hesitate to call 911.
“So if it does get stolen and you can track it we ask that you call 911 to have us recover your vehicle," White said. "Don’t do it yourself."