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ST. LOUIS — Car manufacturer Kia will provide anti-theft software upgrades at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Galleria this weekend as part of an effort to address an unprecedented surge of stolen Kias that began more than a year ago.

The mobile centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Kia will also provide steering wheel locks to car owners who are not eligible for the software upgrade.

Rates of stolen Kias and Hyundais exploded in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ region last year — a trend also seen nationally because of a viral TikTok video that shows how to break into and drive off in many 2011-21 models of the South Korean-made vehicles, using just a screwdriver and a USB charging cable.

The method works on some vehicles because manufacturers did not install engine immobilizers, an electric anti-theft security device that prevents most vehicles from being started unless a code is transmitted from the vehicle’s smart key.

The surge in thefts put a strain on local resources, and police tied stolen cars to violent crimes, including shootings and deadly hit-and-runs. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ officials in March followed other municipalities across the country and filed a federal lawsuit, separate from a class action lawsuit, against the manufacturers.

The companies settled a separate nationwide class-action lawsuit in May and agreed to pay more than $200 million for about 9 million vehicles that lack the standard anti-theft security device.

Theft rates have decreased in the city and county this year but remain elevated from rates prior to the surge. Through September there have been a total of 834 Kias and Hyundais reported stolen to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County police and 2,386 in the city; in 2021, that number through September was 93 in the county and 210 in the city.

In 2022, the number of Kias and Hyundais stolen in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ — 3,958 — almost surpassed the total of all cars thefts in the year before, or 4,132 vehicles. In all, 7,397 cars were reported stolen in 2022 in the city, a 91% increase from the previous year.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County saw the same trend but at lower numbers. In 2022, police reported 1,621 Kias and Hyundais stolen, making up almost 60% of the 2,775 total cars reported stolen that year. In 2021, there were 140 Kias and Hyundais reported and total car thefts hit 1,669.

Kia said it is working with Carfax to inform Kia owners of their eligibility for the upgrade and said it plans to host similar events in multiple cities.

Owners can confirm eligibility at .