Kia and Hyundai model thefts skyrocket 767% in Chicago, across the US due to TikTok challenge

Chicago has become the latest city to fall victim to TikTok’s latest challenge, showing how you can power up Kia and Hyundai cars with just a USB cable.

The Windy City has seen thefts from the two car brands increase by a staggering 767 percent since the beginning of July compared to the same period in 2021, according to Chicago police.

Although the original Kia challenge video was removed, copies have surfaced to the point that TikTok has asked users to report any copies that have been made.

The challenge, which users post on the social video site with the hashtag #KiaBoyz, shows impressed viewers that the tip of a phone charger or USB cable can power up a Hyundai or Kia.

“These carjackings are a crime of opportunity and can affect almost any member of the community,” the Chicago Police Department said in a statement.

Chicago isn’t alone in facing this worrying trend, as cities across the United States seem to be dealing with danger.

In Portland, Oregon, Hyundai thefts are up 153 percent, while Kia’s are up 269 percent, according to city ​​police.

In Columbus, Ohio, the two brands accounted for 38 percent of all stolen cars in 2022, the New York Post reported.

In Los Angeles, Kias and Hyundais account for 20 percent of all car thefts, up from 13 percent at this point last year, KTLA says.

Police in Charlotte, North Carolina reported that car thefts were 30 percent higher than used to be the case this time of year, with most of the vehicles being Kias and Hyundais.

TikTok, when confronted with WHIO’s videos, sent out a statement: “We absolutely do not condone this type of video and it is something that is being removed from our platforms.” We use a combination of technology and dedicated security teams to ensure our content aligns with the TikTok community guidelines.

This style of robbery is believed to have originated in Wisconsin as of 2021.

In June, Fox 9 reported in the Twin Cities that there was an increase in thefts from Kia and Hyundai. At the time, a woman who had just bought a Kia Sol and had it stolen outside her home in Minneapolis told the station that if she had known how easy it was to steal cars, she would have bought something different. .

A ‘Kia Boyz’-style robbery was linked to the death of a 70-year-old woman named Phoua Hang, who was killed when the car she was traveling in was struck by a stolen Kia, reports TwinCities.com.

As of this writing, there have been no arrests in connection with Hang’s death. The problem is particularly acute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Kia Boyz-related thefts account for two-thirds of stolen cars in the city.

It’s gotten so bad in Milwaukee that officials have advised Kia and Hyundai owners to buy steering locks or invest in more advanced safety systems.

In May, WISN reported that a member of the ‘Kia Boyz’, 19-year-old Antonio Carter, was accused of pointing a ‘long gun’ at a police officer as he attempted to arrest him.

Carter was also charged with driving the stolen red Kia at 90 miles per hour in the city’s “wrong travel lanes.” At the time of his arrest, Carter was out on bail on two open felony cases.

In a statement about the thefts, Kia said: “Kia America is aware of an increase in vehicle thefts from a subset of trim levels. All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either earlier in the year or as a running change.

‘All Kia vehicles for sale in the US meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Kia customers with questions about their Kia vehicle should contact the customer assistance center directly at 1-800-333-4542.’

While Hyundai said: ‘Hyundai Motor America is concerned about the rise in local car thefts. The safety and well-being of our customers and the community is and will continue to be our highest priority.’

“These vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and engine immobilizers are standard equipment on all new Hyundai vehicles.”

TikTok has come under fire in recent months for exposing teens to dangerous trends including ‘rape culture’, how to hook up new cars and a vile ‘blackout challenge’ that has killed young people.

The social media giant has failed to remove misogynistic comments from former kickboxer Andrew Tate, images of thugs stealing KIAs and Hyundias, and content encouraging children to suffocate.

All of this occurs despite the tech giant having extensive detailed community guidelines on its website, including rules on dangerous acts and challenges, hateful behavior, and against promoting suicide or harm.

But it could soon be held more accountable in the US for the site’s content under the Anti-Harness with Social Transparency Act.

The bill seeks to combat dangers to children and increase transparency about how apps are used to commit crimes.

TikTok isn’t the only outlet fighting dangerous content on its site, as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have come under fire in recent months for not moderating effectively.

The outlet has taken the social media world by storm since its global launch in 2017, allowing users to share short bursts of content ranging from innocent dance routines to dangerous challenges.

The China-based firm has also proven popular with celebrities and the media, with both groups using it to broaden their reach.