With the rise in car thefts, some dealers are reporting small increases in car security sales.
Automotive thefts climbed 16 percent nationwide from 2019 to 2021. Even sharper increases are occurring this year in select regions. Washington State has seen an 88 percent spike in car thefts for Q1 over the period last year, according to Car and Driver. In Milwaukee car thefts have jumped 160 percent over last year.
Kia and Hyundai vehicles are particular targets for theft in cities including Columbus, OH and Milwaukee. Thefts of catalytic converters from many types of vehicles are also rampant as is carjacking.
Todd Hays of Columbus Car Audio, OH says customers have begun asking for security and salesmen have started pitching it. Many of the sales are to Kia owners who have experienced a theft.
Hays’ sales are now up in both remote start/security and standalone security, but he added, “We’re now seeing a pretty good surge on just security.”
Kia vehicles, starting with model years 2011 or 2012, can be stolen without a key fob and with a simple screwdriver. In Columbus, police said kids are learning how to steal them from YouTube videos. Many older Hyundai models are also vulnerable. Hyundai has already fixed the problem in recent years and Kia started including an immobilizer in vehicles for the 2022 model year, but the older cars remain easy targets, said CarandDriver.
Tom Sweere of Beach Auto Sound, Huntington Beach, CA is also seeing a small uptick in security sales. In his region, the main security customers are tradesmen with trucks and vans.
But security sales at many dealers we contacted, remain flat despite the surge in theft. And aftermarket security companies VOXX, Directed and Compustar are not seeing a corresponding spike.
Sales are “steady and healthy,” said VOXX/Directed Vice President Vehicle Security Joe Dentamaro. “That being said, with all the auto theft / vandalism in the news, I would have expected it to be even higher….You can’t go a day without seeing a newspaper report or local news report with cars missing their wheels and tires, stolen catalytic converters, etc.”
John Faust of ABC Automotive Electronics, IL said more customers are coming in and asking for ways to prevent the theft of catalytic converters (which contain precious metals that can be resold). Sales of protective cages and straps are slightly up, but many customers balk at the $300 price tag. “It’s not like purchasing a remote start that they see every day. They are hearing there’s a problem, [with theft], but when they find out its $300, they are not seeing the value,” said John Faust.
But business at Car Audio & Security, Oak Lawn, IL has basically switched from mainly audio this spring/summer to mainly security. “I’ve barely done any audio this summer,” said owner Robert Hough. The top vehicles stolen in the Chicago suburb are Dodge Challengers, Chargers and Jeep Grand Cherokees (especially, the SRT). He said, “All you need is a $1,000 programmer, then break in, plug it into the OBD and drive off.”
Dentamaro said, “I still believe retailers need to focus in on this (unfortunate opportunity) and present the options to consumers when they come in. Additionally, they should be increasing the awareness through their social media sites and local marketing to apartment complexes and condo / townhouse associations.”
Mike Irwin of Soundwaves, Memphis,TN said he hasn’t seen a rise in security sales despite a spike in crime. “What we’re seeing around here are people driving down the street and smashing car windows. If you park on the street at night, there’s a good chance your window will be busted. They are out looking for guns.”
Seattle is another hard hit area in which automotive crime is up. DanMcMillan of In Phase Marketing said crime is “horrible.” More dealers are now selling remote start this spring/summer and attaching security to the sale, he said.
Three store chain Audio Express in Richmond VA is seeing more digital video recorder sales, in part, to record vandalism, said Andy Bagwell.
