March 19 (Reuters) -

Vehicle thefts in the United States recorded their biggest

yearly drop in four decades as automakers, mainly Hyundai and

Kia, bolstered anti-theft measures, while easing supply chain

constraints made stealing vehicles for parts less lucrative.

Hyundai and Kia cars topped the

list of the most stolen vehicles in 2021 and 2023 as their lack

of immobilizers made them easy targets for stealing, fuelling

viral social media trends such as the "Kia Boys".

Although cars made by Hyundai and Kia were among the top

five models that were stolen last year, their thefts fell by

about 37.5%, data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau

showed.

Hyundai Motor America said it implemented measures to combat

thefts of certain entry-level models lacking immobilizers by

including free software upgrades, ignition cylinder protectors

and reimbursement programs.

The automaker, whose Korean parent owns a third of Kia and

shares platforms and components, said 68% of vulnerable vehicles

had already received the anti-theft update.

Vehicle thefts across the U.S. fell 16.6% to 850,708 units

in 2024 from a year earlier, according to the NICB data. They

hit a record high of 1.02 million vehicles in 2023.

Improved supplies of auto parts and new vehicles have also

made stealing cars less attractive for thieves.

Carjackings spiked during the pandemic as supply chain

disruptions drove up prices for vehicles and parts, but the

economic allure of vehicle stripping has since waned with better

inventories, said Art Wheaton, professor at Cornell University.

Washington state witnessed a significant drop in vehicle

thefts, while Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon and Colorado also saw a

big fall in the number of stolen vehicles in 2024.

While models like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado,

Toyota Camry and Honda Civic topped theft lists due to their

large presence on the streets, four Hyundai and Kia vehicles in

the top 10 for 2024 still point to broader issues, Wheaton said.

Meanwhile, Washington, DC, had the highest vehicle theft

rate last year, with 842 thefts per 100,000 people, even though

the U.S. capital saw an 18% drop from a year earlier.

California and New Mexico followed the capital region with

theft rates of around 460 units for every 100,000 residents.

Alex Piquero, professor of criminology at the University of

Miami, credited law enforcement efforts to disrupt theft rings,

while the Council on Criminal Justice noted that fewer

black-market sales, both domestically and internationally, may

also have contributed to the decline.