Photo: NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command
You'd think a trend that started years ago on TikTok would fade mainly because people would lose interest, but this is certainly not happening in the case of the Kia Boys.
Not as long as the Boys can still find unpatched vehicles on the road, which are basically an invitation to get inside and drive away.
The Kia Boys trend continues with a story from Wollongong, New South Wales, where the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command noticed a Kia reported as stolen driven on Emerson Road.
The patrol car immediately tried to pull the Kia over, at which point the officer noticed the vehicle accelerating. The driver was trying to escape, so the police decided to lock down the entire area to stop the car and arrest the driver.
The mission ended fast, as the people inside the stolen Kia rapidly abandoned the vehicle and tried to run away on foot. Police officers eventually discovered the trio involved in the theft hiding in the laundry of a house, hoping the police wouldn't look in there.
To everybody's surprise, the driver was a 13-year-old boy, while his passengers were a 12YO and another 13YO friend. All three were involved in the notorious Kia Boys group and were already on bail for similar offenses.
The 13-year-old driver wannabe was refused bail, while the other two were released on bail. Police say the three weren't even supposed to "associate with one another" after the previous offenses, but this was the most insignificant problem in this case, considering they stole a Kia and attempted to run away from the cops.
While the Kia Boys show no signs of losing interest in stealing cars, owners must know that Kia and Hyundai have already released an anti-theft software update that prevents thieves from starting the engine. The TikTok method works by allowing a thief to start the engine by connecting a USB cable after getting into the car by breaking a window and ripping off the steering wheel column cover.
Kia and Hyundai shipped a patch for certain affected models, while the vehicles that don't support updating are provided with steering wheel locks.
The Kia Boys typically steal cars for Internet fame, filming the theft and sharing it online for views. Most cars end up wrecked in many cases, especially as the thieves abandon them on the side of the roads with the doors open when they try to run away from the police. Others hit poles or vehicles parked on the street because they're too young to drive and can't control the stolen cars.
If you own a Hyundai or Kia that was exposed to this hack and haven't already installed the update, you can get the patch at any dealer in the US at no cost.
The Kia Boys trend continues with a story from Wollongong, New South Wales, where the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command noticed a Kia reported as stolen driven on Emerson Road.
The patrol car immediately tried to pull the Kia over, at which point the officer noticed the vehicle accelerating. The driver was trying to escape, so the police decided to lock down the entire area to stop the car and arrest the driver.
The mission ended fast, as the people inside the stolen Kia rapidly abandoned the vehicle and tried to run away on foot. Police officers eventually discovered the trio involved in the theft hiding in the laundry of a house, hoping the police wouldn't look in there.
To everybody's surprise, the driver was a 13-year-old boy, while his passengers were a 12YO and another 13YO friend. All three were involved in the notorious Kia Boys group and were already on bail for similar offenses.
The 13-year-old driver wannabe was refused bail, while the other two were released on bail. Police say the three weren't even supposed to "associate with one another" after the previous offenses, but this was the most insignificant problem in this case, considering they stole a Kia and attempted to run away from the cops.
While the Kia Boys show no signs of losing interest in stealing cars, owners must know that Kia and Hyundai have already released an anti-theft software update that prevents thieves from starting the engine. The TikTok method works by allowing a thief to start the engine by connecting a USB cable after getting into the car by breaking a window and ripping off the steering wheel column cover.
Kia and Hyundai shipped a patch for certain affected models, while the vehicles that don't support updating are provided with steering wheel locks.
The Kia Boys typically steal cars for Internet fame, filming the theft and sharing it online for views. Most cars end up wrecked in many cases, especially as the thieves abandon them on the side of the roads with the doors open when they try to run away from the police. Others hit poles or vehicles parked on the street because they're too young to drive and can't control the stolen cars.
If you own a Hyundai or Kia that was exposed to this hack and haven't already installed the update, you can get the patch at any dealer in the US at no cost.
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