New York and San Antonio cops differ on tracking stolen cars with Airtags

Be cautious when using AirTags to track stolen items

Vehicle thefts are on the rise in some states, so much so that New York City handed out free AirTags to residents so they can track their vehicles. Vehicles are also being stolen in San Antonio, Texas, but police urge caution when using Apple's tracking technology.

Victims may be tempted to use an AirTag to track their vehicle to the thief's location to confront them, but that can be dangerous. Instead, victims of vehicle thefts should report the crime to the police as soon as possible, said officer Ricardo Guzman, a spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department.

In the meantime, if someone discovers a stolen vehicle without the assistance of law enforcement, they too should call the police right away, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Five Kia models, including the Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio, and Sportage, topped the list of most stolen vehicles in March. With the Sonata and Elantra, which was the most stolen vehicle, Hyundais also made the list. The second-most stolen cars were Ford F-series pickup trucks.

According to San Antonio police, some social media videos showing how to steal Kia and Hyundai model cars that lack an engine immobilizer — an electronic security feature that prevents a vehicle from being started without the proper key — may be a factor in the rise in vehicle thefts.

Hyundai has a free anti-theft software upgrade for specific models in response to increasing thefts. Nearly four million vehicles are eligible, with models as far back as 2011.