Louisville's hot wheels | The city's most stolen cars revealed and how to keep them safe

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — You park it. Lock it. And somehow, it’s still gone.

Some car owners in Louisville are learning the hard way that locking your vehicle may not be enough — especially if you own one of a few specific models.

According to Louisville Metro Police, Hyundai tops the list of most-stolen car brands in the city for both 2024 and 2025. The 2015 Hyundai Sonata in particular has been stolen more than 150 times so far this year. In 2024, 342 Sonatas were taken — nearly one per day.

“They took my whole handle off and then disconnected the ignition,” said a woman who had her Sonata stolen less than a month after she bought it. “You wake up, and it’s gone.”

Most stolen car brands in Louisville (2025 so far):

Hyundai
Dodge
Kia

LMPD said 2,232 vehicles have been reported stolen so far in 2025. The good news is police have already recovered 1,725 of them — a 77% recovery rate.

While any vehicle can be a target, officers said thieves are frequently targeting models with known security flaws.

For example, Dodge Chargers and other keyless-entry models are often compromised by cloning fobs using VIN numbers. And in 2023, the City of Louisville sued Hyundai and Kia, accusing them of failing to include standard anti-theft technology in many of their vehicles.

Still, overall car thefts are down in Louisville, around an 18% decrease from this time last year. Police credit their broader crackdown on violent crime.

“We know people steal cars to commit other crimes,” said LMPD spokesperson John Bradley. “This is one of those crimes that is equal opportunity — it happens everywhere in our county.”

Bradley said drivers should contact their manufacturer or dealer to ask about model-specific security options and updates.

LMPD's tips to prevent vehicle theft:

Lock your doors, even in your driveway
Bring valuables and garage openers inside
Don’t park in dark or secluded areas
Be alert: If someone is taking photos of your VIN, report it

Another tip? Consider installing a small GPS tracker like an Apple AirTag or Tile. For around $30, they can help police locate your vehicle if it’s stolen.

The woman whose Hyundai was recovered less than 24 hours after the theft said the experience was still upsetting.

“They went in there and just trashed the whole car,” she said.

Police said with the right precautions — and a bit of tech help — you can make your vehicle a much harder target.