BALTIMORE, MD—Amid rising vehicle thefts in the state, Maryland State Police and the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council are offering free steering wheel locks to Hyundai and Kia owners this weekend.

The free locks are available to Maryland residents who own a vehicle that uses a physical key to start. To receive a lock, residents must bring their license and registration to the lobby of one of the 14 Maryland State Police Barracks between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on March 2 and March 3.

One-wheel lock will be provided per vehicle owner while supplies last. A vehicle owner can take one free lock from their vehicle as a part of the giveaway.

“Vehicle theft is a crime of opportunity,” said Chris McDonold, Executive Director of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. “Taking proactive steps to prevent vehicle theft is critical to safeguarding your personal property.”

According to the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, vehicle thefts occur on an average of every 47 minutes in Maryland. Most thefts happen in residential areas during the late evening and early morning hours, as well as in commercial areas during midday.

More than half of the vehicles that are stolen have the keys left inside, according to the council.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.