YOUNGSTOWN - The Youngstown area has seen a rise in vehicle thefts involving Hyundai's and Kia's.

Vehicles at risk of theft include Kia models made between 2011 and 2021 that require a key to start. Hyundai models at risk include the Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Veloster, Venue, Kona, Tucson, Sante Fe and Palisade made between 2016 and 2021.

Several preventative measures can be taken to avoid car theft.

According to the Youngstown Police Department's press release, preventative measures include securing the vehicle and removing all keys from the car, parking in well-lit areas, and installing a tracking system. Some models have built in tracking systems available for set up, but Apple Airtags, Samsung SmartTags and the Tile Mate GPS tracker are available for purchase.

YPD says these car thefts began as a Tiktok challenge, but became a nationwide issue as the videos circulated.