In an effort to prevent stolen vehicles, the Madison Police Department is handing out free wheel locks to people who own certain Hyundai models.

The locks will be distributed during the department’s annual National Night Out event on Wednesday. The event runs from 5-7 p.m. outside of the Madison Mallards stadium at Warner Park. 

The locks will be given to the first 100 people who own Hyundai vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2021 that do not have an engine immobilizer.   All push-button start Hyundai vehicles with a proximity key are equipped with immobilizers.
Hyundai vehicles that require a physical, shank-style key do not have immobilizers.

Those requesting a wheel lock will need to show their vehicle registration card or bring their vehicle to the event.

The locks were donated by Hyundai.

There has been an increase in Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts this summer in Madison and other cities across Wisconsin due to a manufacturing issue. At least 77 vehicles were stolen in June. Of those, 21 of them were Kia and 14 of them were Hyundai models. The majority of the stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles either had damaged windows or steering wheel columns. 

Stolen vehicle cases are a top priority for the Madison Police Department as outlined in our 2022 Summer Strategic Plan.

You can learn more about National Night Out by visiting this link.