The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is helping some KIA and Hyundai owners take a club to potential car thieves. A pair of KIA vehicles were stolen last week. UW-O Police then learned that some KIA and Hyundai models are vulnerable to theft. After consulting with the Milwaukee Police Department and getting funding from the U-W Oshkosh Foundation, KIA and Hyundai owners on campus are getting free Club locks that connect a vehicle’s gas pedal to its steering wheel.
“We made contact with O’Reilly Auto Parts here in Oshkosh,” says UWO Police Captain Chris Tarmann, “And they were willing to discount some steering wheel locks. So, we bought a bunch and we’re offering them to our overnight permit holders who own KIAs and Hyundais. They’re free of charge and they get to keep them so their vehicles are safe when parking overnight.”
Captain Tarmann says owners are taking advantage of the offer and campus police are adjusting their patrol plans.
“We’ve already issued a bunch of these,” he says. “So they’ve already go them installed on their vehicles. We’ve also got our staff to do focused patrols. They’re also zeroed in on where they’re supposed to patrol.”
The two vehicles stolen last week have since been recovered.
