Buying a new car is always something to be proud of. At least that’s how Steven Koppelkam told TMJ4 News Reporter Sydni Eure he felt when he brought his Kia.
“Oh shoot that was a solid at least 7 years ago minimum,” said Steven Koppelkam, a Kia owner.
However, that new car bliss was short lived for Steven.
“Did you ever see anything like this coming,” Sydni asked.
“No,” Steven replied. “The value of this car is basically nothing now. Nobody wants it. So, I can’t even trade it in. I’m just going to drive it until its dead.”
That value decrease is all due to the theft surge in Kias. It began after a viral social media TikTok challenge seemed to sweep the nation, Steven and Adam Davis’s communities.
“I actually used to work in law enforcement and we used to deal with Kia thefts quite a bit so we figured if its a free service they’re offering we might as well take advantage of it,” said Adam Davis, Kia owner.
Reports show many of the break-ins and stolen Kias where done with something as simple as a USB Cord. We’re told the new software will restrict the operation of the vehicle’s ignition systems to avoid that from happening further. Owners can receive it at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Mother’s Day weekend for free.
Adam said he doesn’t think people should never buy a Kia again and actually says he loves his car. He did suggest going out of the way to ensure as much safety as you can.
“I know they’re making updates,” said Adam. “I mean unfortunately this kind of thing they don’t know about it until there starts to be a problem. Of course there’s always hindsight like they should have done this in the first place but it is what it is. We’ve been very lucky but even my friends who have had their Kia stolen, they’ve had a good experience with recovery and insurance.”
Milwaukee Police Data shows more than 6,000 cars were stolen in the city last year alone. That’s actually fewer cars than 2022 when totals came in at 8,000. Through May 8th of this year, more than 1,800 cars have been stolen. That’s a 10% decrease from the same time last year and Kia owners are hopeful.
“I just want it to be fixed and done with so I can park my car safely outside,” said Steven.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
