The “Kia Boyz” or “Kia Challenge” trend doesn’t seem to be going away quickly. Police in different states and counties in the United States has warned that the movement has increased the theft of Kia and Hyundais cars.
The term “Kia Boys” was first used for a pair of young men in black masks who appeared in a TikTok video demonstrating how to steal certain Kia vehicles.
As other users learned how easy it is to steal Kia and Hyundai cars using a USB cable, it has become the trend. Thanks to many videos on TikTok and YouTube, car theft has increased.
Teenagers even began to use the technique taught in the original videos and stole cars. So, Police in different areas have caught many teenagers stealing cars.
Let’s take a detailed look at the incidents, including the response of the Kia motors over the trend. Follow us till the end and discover how you can easily protect your Kia or Hyundais car from the trend.
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Kia Boys Arrested For TikTok Challenge To Steal Kias And Hyundais Cars Strikes Again
Following an early morning chase and a rollover accident in Kent County, Kent County Police arrested two teenagers.
Two teenagers, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, allegedly stole a car and were taken into custody after a medical evaluation. The incident was filed under the Kia Boys trend.
Kia Boyz is a trend or TikTok challenge to steal Kias and Hyundais cars (Image Source: SportsKeeda)
Likewise, a 14-year-old boy was charged with stealing two vehicles on September 16 and 17, according to a social media post made on December 12 by the sheriff of Monroe County.
The sheriff connected the TikTok challenge, Kia Boyz, that targeted Kias and Hyundais motors.
The trend doesn’t seem to be going away quickly. Police in different states and counties in the United States has warned that the movement has increased theft and dangerous behaviors related to Korean car brands.
Increased Influence Of The TikTok Trend/ Challenge
According to statistics, nearly 20% of the stolen automobiles in the city at the end of August were Korean-made, and the theft of these brands is expected to increase by 767% by 2022, reported Marca.
While the trend began in Milwaukee in 2021, it has now spread to the entire country. According to the Wall Street Journal,
In August 2021, more than 60 Kia vehicles were stolen; in just one year, that figure rose to a staggering 600. Meanwhile, St. Louis claimed that in 2022, more than 48% of automobiles were stolen due to the influence of online trends.
Many people involved in the trend seem to be stealing or breaking into cars for fun and other motives.
Response From Involved Companies
TikTok has committed to taking down relevant recordings that Kia Challenge thieves have uploaded via the service.
The Kia Boys trend influenced many TikTok users to steal vehicles. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Both Hyundai and Kia have acknowledged that car thefts have increased, and Kia also noted that new cars beginning with the 2022 model year now come with immobilizers installed.
Furthermore, Kia also provided steering wheel locks free to Police departments to give away in high-theft areas.
How to protect your car from the Kia boys TikTok trend?
Thankfully, several quick, simple, and inexpensive methods exist to stop the Kia Boys.
- You can prevent your Kia or Hyundai from being featured on TikTok’s home page by parking indoors and securing your car.
- Purchasing an immobilizer is an additional possibility. The mechanic probably has the skills to install one for you.
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