Howard County police detectives charged a man and a teenager in connection with vehicle thefts that police said are part of a nationwide trend of Hyundai and Kia thefts.Video above: Hyundai and Kia respond to theft trends, offer free solutionsPolice said the arrests resulted in the closure of eight Hyundai and Kia theft cases.Xavier Noel Mitchell, 19, of Laurel, was charged in seven vehicle thefts/attempted thefts between August and October in Columbia and Laurel and a neighboring jurisdiction.A 15-year-old Columbia boy was charged in a separate case from March 16 in Columbia.Police encouraged residents to take steps to make their vehicle less likely to be targeted, that include:Contact Hyundai (800-633-5151) or Kia (800-333-4542) for information on their anti-theft software update.Use a steering wheel lock. Even if the vehicle is started, it cannot be operated if the wheel lock is in place properly.Practice standard vehicle theft safety measures such as parking in a secured access lot or personal garage if possible.Always lock your doors and consider activating tracking software or adding a tracking device such as an AirTag to make it easier to locate if stolen.The thefts stem from a social media challenge that shows how to steal these cars. Police said tens of thousands of Hyundais and Kias have been stolen nationwide in the last year by thieves using a USB cable.Last month, Anne Arundel County police made two arrests in one case involving two 13-year-old suspects.Both Kia and Hyundai are offering software upgrades to fix the problem but in the meantime, some local police departments are already taking action. Baltimore County offered wheel locks locks to its residents last month.On Saturday, Howard County police said detectives organized a giveaway of steering wheel locks to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Northern or Southern district stations, while supplies last. Maryland residents will need to bring their driver's license and vehicle registration. The giveaway is being funded by the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.For owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, the following information has more details as well as links to schedule a software upgrade from a dealer.Hyundai ownersHyundai launched a service campaign this week offering a software upgrade to car owners with the following vehicle models:2017-2020 Elantra2015-2019 Sonata2020-2021 VenueThe free upgrade can be performed by Hyundai dealers and will take less than one hour to install. After the upgrade, your car will have a sticker placed on the window warning would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology. Kia ownersKia owners looking to receive a software upgrade preventing theft should call 800-333-4542. A special section of the owner's portal at kia.com has also been published.You can also find information on how to obtain a steering wheel lock for your Kia here.