Morgan City police: Kia, Hyundai owners should get security upgrade

The Morgan City Police Department is urging owners of some Kia and Hyundai vehicles to take up the automaker’s offer of a free upgrade to theft deterrent software.

The department said Tuesday that the Detectives Division has investigated one vehicle theft and one attempt theft in the last week.

Over the past week the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division has investigated an attempted theft of a vehicle and one where a vehicle was stolen.

"The vehicles involved in these investigations have a security flaw which allows criminals to easily access your vehicle and drive off,” the department said in a Facebook post.

Kia models from 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021 are missing electronic immobilizers, an anti-theft device that uses a unique chip in the key fob to unlock the car. Without an immobilizer, thieves could easily unscrew the steering column in the cars, insert a USB into the ignition, and drive away.

Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for millions of their vehicles that lack an immobilizer and will provide it free to vehicle owners.

The software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on. If you own any of these vehicles and have not updated your security, please contact your dealership, the department said.

Here is what we need you to do. Make sure that your vehicle is secure and locked. Although this will not totally stop a would-be thief, it does make it harder for them to access your vehicle.

“Officers of the Morgan City Police Department are on high alert and will be vigilantly patrolling the streets of Morgan City,” the department said. “We ask that our Community Partners report any suspicious activity to the Morgan City Police Department @ (985)380-4605.”