Milwaukee and UWM Police Offering Kia and Hyundai Owners Free Steering Wheel Locks to Stop Car Thefts

With the increase of car theft in Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Police, in coordination with the Milwaukee Police Department, is distributing free steering wheel locks to UWM students, faculty, staff and neighbors near campus to help with the problem.  

In 2021, there were 10,479 motor vehicle thefts, a 133% increase compared to 2020, according to data from MPD. 

Jillian Gabriel, 21, a junior at UWM, had her 2012 Kia Sportage stolen last June in the lower east side. 

“It definitely gave me a lot of anxiety and I was extremely upset about it,” said Gabriel.  

“It was super stressful because I had no idea what I was going to do about it, especially because I got it three weeks before it was stolen,” said Gabriel.  

Gabriel said she had to take the bus or have her roommates drive her to work.  

Two Bluetooth speakers were taken out of her vehicle, according to Gabriel.  

“Even though they found it within 24 hours it felt really weird to drive it again since someone had stolen it,” said Gabriel. 

Gabriel said having a steering wheel lock would have been a good idea.  

“I know that even with those cars still get stolen sometimes, but I feel like it would’ve lowered the chances of the thief taking the time to steal it with the lock on there,” said Gabriel. 

UWMPD is providing anti-locking devices for students, faculty and staff, according to Craig Rafferty, community liaison officer for UWM police.  

Kia’s and Hyundai’s have been targeted because of their manufacturing devices, according to Rafferty. 

Rafferty hopes that the return of the steering wheel columns will deter the increase in car theft.  

“Hopefully we’ll see the trend going down,” said Rafferty. 

Steering wheel locks are important because car theft does not adhere to a clear pattern or location.  

Rafferty said they tried to study the timeline of stolen cars, but he said it is rapid. 

“We’ve had them daytime, afternoon and nighttime, so there’s not really a specific timeline to where we’re actually seeing more thefts than others,” said Rafferty. 

Areas where there is a lot of vehicular traffic including Downer, Oakland and North Avenue are targeted the most, according to Rafferty. 

Parking in a parking structure provides a vehicle with a little more coverage, according to Rafferty. He said there are cameras that are on most of the parking lots on campus.  

“We just ask that, you know, park in a well-lit area,” said Rafferty. “Make sure that you’re not leaving any valuables around because usually, they’re targeting the ones where they can actually see there’s something inside the vehicle and it makes it easier for them to just kind of smash and grab it.”  

Illegally parked cars make it easier for people to steal them because thieves can navigate them and take them from where they were not supposed to be, according to Rafferty. 

Kia and Hyundai owners wanting a steering wheel lock should contact UWMPD by calling 414-229-4627. Proof of ownership is required.