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Car theft in Omaha, and the Kia and Hyundai wave

The Omaha Police Department's area recorded 2,264 vehicle thefts in 2025, 2.3 times the national rate per resident (FBI Crime Data Explorer). Monthly thefts peaked at 705 in October 2023, during the Kia and Hyundai theft wave. The software update for those cars cut theft claims by about half, according to IIHS-HLDI.

Updated October 28, 2026 ยท Sources listed at the end

A car key fob resting on the roof of a dark car
Push-to-start fobs have to be programmed to the car, not just cut. Photo: Bence Balla-Schottner / Unsplash
On this page
  1. Omaha's numbers
  2. What happened with Kias and Hyundais
  3. The fix, and its catch
  4. What helps

Omaha's numbers

Vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, Omaha Police Department area vs. United States

OmahaUnited States

Omaha 2010: 537 per 100,000United States 2010: 241 per 100,000537'10Omaha 2011: 642 per 100,000United States 2011: 232 per 100,000'11Omaha 2012: 657 per 100,000United States 2012: 232 per 100,000'12Omaha 2013: 725 per 100,000United States 2013: 224 per 100,000'13Omaha 2014: 718 per 100,000United States 2014: 217 per 100,000'14Omaha 2015: 562 per 100,000United States 2015: 223 per 100,000'15Omaha 2016: 700 per 100,000United States 2016: 240 per 100,000'16Omaha 2017: 779 per 100,000United States 2017: 239 per 100,000'17Omaha 2018: 665 per 100,000United States 2018: 231 per 100,000'18Omaha 2019: 670 per 100,000United States 2019: 221 per 100,000'19Omaha 2020: 631 per 100,000United States 2020: 247 per 100,000'20Omaha 2022: 694 per 100,000United States 2022: 290 per 100,000'22Omaha 2024: 632 per 100,000United States 2024: 258 per 100,000'24Omaha 2025: 464 per 100,000United States 2025: 200 per 100,000464'25
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Omaha Police Department offenses reported, rate per 100,000 residents. Years with missing months (2021, and 2023 for Omaha, during the switch to NIBRS reporting) are left out.

In every complete year since 2010, Omaha's vehicle theft rate has been at least twice the national rate. In 2025 it was 464 per 100,000 residents against 200 nationally, about 6.2 vehicles a day. The full data.

Vehicle thefts reported each month, Omaha Police Department

2022-01: 242 theftsJan 222022-02: 234 thefts2022-03: 237 thefts2022-04: 216 thefts2022-05: 187 thefts2022-06: 199 thefts2022-07: 337 theftsJul 222022-08: 346 thefts2022-09: 245 thefts2022-10: 340 thefts2022-11: 372 thefts2022-12: 402 thefts2023-01: not reportedJan 232023-02: not reported2023-03: not reported2023-04: not reported2023-05: not reported2023-06: not reported2023-07: not reportedJul 232023-08: 482 thefts2023-09: 419 thefts2023-10: 705 thefts7052023-11: 451 thefts2023-12: 368 thefts2024-01: 245 theftsJan 242024-02: 274 thefts2024-03: 305 thefts2024-04: 237 thefts2024-05: 258 thefts2024-06: 283 thefts2024-07: 273 theftsJul 242024-08: 238 thefts2024-09: 214 thefts2024-10: 231 thefts2024-11: 256 thefts2024-12: 220 thefts2025-01: 221 theftsJan 252025-02: 169 thefts2025-03: 211 thefts2025-04: 205 thefts2025-05: 228 thefts2025-06: 213 thefts2025-07: 227 theftsJul 252025-08: 155 thefts2025-09: 179 thefts2025-10: 151 thefts2025-11: 178 thefts2025-12: 127 thefts
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, monthly offenses. Gaps are months the department did not report during its NIBRS changeover. The peak, October 2023, came during the Kia and Hyundai theft wave.

What happened with Kias and Hyundais

Many Hyundai and Kia models from the 2010s were built without an engine immobilizer. IIHS-HLDI found immobilizers were standard on 17% of 2011 Hyundai and Kia models, against 92% for other brands. When a method for starting them spread on social media in 2022, thefts jumped.

In Omaha, a police auto theft lieutenant told WOWT in August 2022 that the city had gone from 20 to 30 Kia and Hyundai thefts a month to 120 the month before. By June 2023, WOWT reported at least 503 stolen since that July, and Omaha police were giving out free steering wheel locks to owners. KMTV reported that auto theft in Omaha rose 83% in 2023 over 2022.

The fix, and its catch

Hyundai and Kia released anti-theft software. IIHS-HLDI found upgraded vehicles had theft claim rates 53% lower, and whole-vehicle thefts 64% lower, than vehicles without it. The catch: the immobilizer only arms when you lock the car with the key fob, not the door handle button. A federal court approved a $145 million class settlement in 2024.

What helps

  • Get the software update if your Kia or Hyundai is eligible, and lock with the fob.
  • A steering wheel lock is a visible deterrent.
  • Don't leave a spare key or fob in the car.
  • If a key or fob was stolen, have the locksmith or dealer erase it from the car when they program a new one.

Questions people in Omaha ask

Is my Kia or Hyundai eligible for the software update?

Many older models that start with a traditional turn key are. Your dealer can check by VIN.

Keep reading

Serving Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Millard, Elkhorn, Ralston, Gretna, Bennington, Benson and all of Omaha.

Sources

  1. FBI Crime Data Explorer: Omaha Police Department and Council Bluffs Police Department, summarized offenses (pulled October 28, 2026)
  2. IIHS-HLDI: Anti-theft software tamps down viral theft trend targeting Hyundai, Kia vehicles (August 7, 2024)
  3. IIHS-HLDI: Hyundais, Kias are easy targets amid boom in vehicle thefts (September 22, 2022)
  4. WOWT: Kia, Hyundai thefts continue to skyrocket in Omaha (August 15, 2022)
  5. WOWT: Viral car theft trend in Omaha persisting, OPD offers preventive solution (June 13, 2023)
  6. KMTV 3 News Now: Auto theft up 83 percent from 2022, Omaha police talk crime rates for the year
  7. Bloomberg Law: Kia, Hyundai drivers' $145 million theft deal gets final stamp (October 3, 2024)