The “Kia Boys” gang is blamed by authorities for a spate of automobile thefts that occurred in Milwaukee in 2021.
More children being out of school and a design weakness in some newer models of Kia and Hyundai cars, according to Milwaukee officials, are the two main causes of the rise in auto thefts.
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Why are Kias being stolen?
The city is now experiencing a national trend of auto thefts involving particular brands. The number of stolen Hyundais and Kias, according to certain law enforcement officials in the Twin Cities, has increased.
FOX 9 – ST. PAUL, Minnesota The city is now experiencing a national trend of auto thefts involving particular brands. The number of stolen Hyundais and Kias, according to certain law enforcement officials in the Twin Cities, has increased.
Because they can be started without a key more readily than other vehicles, particular years of Hyundai and Kia are being targeted nationwide.
The Silver Kia Sol owned by Theresa Jones is now nothing more than shattered glass on the ground. It was taken on Thursday in broad daylight only a few steps from her south Minneapolis home.
“I say, “Wait a second. I point to the spot where I parked it and say, “No, it was right there.” And at that time, my head was simply blown. Are you kidding me, really?” Jones uttered.
Just a few days before they made their first car payment, the automobile she and her mother, Lynda Pierce, shared was stolen. It was only with them for six weeks.
Pierce remarked, “I mean, it’s like entering your domain. It’s just extremely scary.”
In other regions of the nation, where Kias and Hyundais are quickly taken off the streets, their tale is well known. Bob Fletcher, the sheriff of Ramsey County, even brought up the problem on Friday’s “Live on Patrol.” According to Fletcher, the problem is particularly serious in Milwaukee, where a group of young people going by the name of the “Kia Boys” steals cars all around the city.
“Watch the YouTube videos on the Milwaukee Kia Boys. It is spreading across the entire nation. Someone must approach Kia and persuade them to recall those vehicles “In the video, Fletcher remarked. “You can see what the metro area is facing by watching the recordings, and the most recent month has seen a significant increase. Two-thirds of the stolen automobiles in Milwaukee are Kias and Hyundais, and there have been tens of thousands of them.”
According to Fox 9, St. Paul police have noticed an upsurge in stolen Kias and Hyundais, and they find the pattern worrisome.
“I did not grow up in this society. We held ourselves and one another in high regard. These individuals respect nothing “Pierce said.
The mother-daughter team of Pierce and Jones claimed that they would have chosen a different vehicle if they had known how easily these cars might be stolen.
Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in Milwaukee have been advised by police to purchase steering wheel locks, and if possible, to invest in security systems and park in secure garages.
After videos on social media platforms like TikTok demonstrated how simple it is to hotwire cars, the trend spread across the country.
“The steering column is completely destroyed. In the backseat, they peed. Alena Clark informed FOX13 that the driver’s side tires are completely destroyed since the wheel was split before they stopped.
We’re looking at $5,000 right now, not even accounting for body injury,” Clark said.
And to make matters worse, according to Clark, the suspects used her car to perpetrate other crimes.
“They forced a man to give up his wallet before taking money from his bank account. Then, according to Clark, used that money to post bond.
Benni Cobb, a retired captain with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, advised getting a steering wheel lock to deter burglars.
Cobb advised getting a steering wheel lock and placing it over the steering column to prevent theft and breakage.
“You can purchase a GPS tracking device. That comes after the event, of course. Cobb advised installing a motion detector in your car to actually alert you if someone enters.
Memphis police ask that you contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH if you see someone committing a crime on TikTok or any other social media app.
Install the FOX13 Memphis app to get notifications of breaking local news.
Which Kia models are stolen?
CLEVELAND (WXIX) – The Forest Park Police Department is advising owners of Kia and Hyundai model cars to be cautious since it appears that thieves are picking on those automakers.
According to Forest Park police, six vehicle brand thefts have been detected since June 21. According to authorities, the most common models stolen were Kia cars from 2011 and Hyundai models from 2015.
According to authorities, the theft of these car brands appears to be a part of a national social media trend that is rapidly spreading.
The method for starting an automobile without a key appeared to have acquired popularity on social media, according to Forest Park police.
The thefts recorded in Forest Park since June 21 have occurred in a variety of places, but according to police, three automobiles were taken overnight from sizable residential buildings.
If I’m being totally honest, it’s a terrible trend. It is awful. He claimed on Tuesday that as a result, my car is lost.
Perkins claims that sometime between Monday night and early Tuesday, someone took his Hyundai from his Clifton apartment building.
I don’t know about that, but it kind of makes me steer clear of Hyundai and Kia, he added. “I never really thought it would happen to me, but going forward I think you can’t really watch your car every night, so I don’t know about that.
Police advise taking the following actions if you drive a Hyundai or a Kia model year 2011 or newer:
- Try to leave your car in a safe area, such a closed garage.
- Utilize a steering wheel lock
- Try to park in places that are well-lit.
- Always keep your doors locked.
- Never leave valuables or personal stuff in your car.
- Take into account aftermarket alarm systems or anti-theft tools.
- Any unusual behavior should be reported, especially during the evening or overnight.
If you have any information on the six car thefts, contact the Forest Park Police Department at 513-595-5220. Call 513-825-2280 or 911 to report a crime in progress or suspicious activity.
How can I prevent theft of my Hyundai?
Investigation revealed the what and the why, and after that, Ricart said, “we started making sure that none of those vehicles were left out at night or left alone, and we were parking them inside.
Ricart suggests the following three measures to keep your automobile from being stolen:
- Park within
- Lock your car.
- Purchase an immobilizer.
Additionally, Ricart claimed that the makers of these cars are aware of the issue that makes them targets and are looking for workable remedies.
Can Kia find a stolen vehicle?
- Service for Emergency Rescue When driving is difficult because of an accident or a natural disaster, the rescue service is offered. The intricacy or duration of the rescue service, however, may result in an additional fee.
- Service for Emergency Towing When driving is not feasible because of a malfunction or accident, an emergency towing service is offered. Up to 10 kilometers from the starting point of the towing, there is no charge. When the free towing distance is exceeded, there is an additional charge.
- Gas Emergency Service When driving is difficult due to running out of fuel, up to 3L of gasoline or diesel is offered without charge. However, emergency fuel service is not an option for LPG vehicles, so emergency towing service is offered instead.
- Service for Battery Charging Free battery charging is available when operating the car is difficult due to battery discharge. If the consumer wishes to have the battery changed, they are responsible for covering the cost.
- Lockdown Service If the vehicle’s key is lost or the doors lock while the key is inside, the unlock service is free of charge (however, the lock of trunk is excluded).
- Exchange of tires The service to change the tire with the spare tire kept in the vehicle is available if driving is difficult due to a flat or damaged tire. However, if a consumer wants to change their tire to a new one, they are responsible for paying the fee. Since handling at the scene is impossible when a vehicle has no spare tire or when two or more tires are destroyed, an emergency towing service is offered.
- Additional emergency services on-site Emergency services are available at the location and are free of charge if driving is not possible. However, the client is responsible for covering any costs associated with repairing or exchanging any part.
- If you need basic information or non-emergency travel directions, use Kia Connect Center. It can also provide urgent assistance in other emergency situations.
- Vehicles that are not registered in Kia Connect are not eligible for services. (For instance, other cars owned by the Kia Connect subscriber client, cars owned by other family members.)
- For the safety of the customer, an emergency towing service is offered when applicable regulations forbid working on roads. (For example, a bridge, expressway, or highway)
- Depending on what the consumer wants, the subscribing insurance provider or Hyundai Hi-car Damage Assessment, a partner of Kia Connect, will offer services for towing, door unlocking, tire change, emergency gas, and battery changing.
- KIA emergency dispatch service is offered in the event of any other item, including the warranty repair. In this instance, the service is governed by the terms and conditions of the customer’s new car warranty.
- Please advise Kia Connect Center of any changes to your license number, insurance provider, or emergency contact information for prompt assistance (1899-2121).
By verifying the theft report to the police, this service is intended to facilitate the swift recovery of a stolen vehicle in accordance with the policy.
When a car is stolen, Kia Connect Emergency Rescue Center assists in the quick and efficient tracking of the stolen vehicle by giving the authorities access to the vehicle’s current location and journey in real-time.
- Once connected to the Kia Connect Center by phone (1899-2121), choose the Theft Tracking Service and follow the ARS instructions to connect with a counselor. The theft tracking service is offered following confirmation of the police report through the customer identification process.
- The Theft Tracking service is not offered for any case that is not reported to the police in order to prevent invasion of customer privacy or misuse of the service.
- The service is only offered when the police request it in order to protect private information and location data.
- Only subscribers to Kia Connect Services are eligible for the service. A specific identification process is carried out for the service.
A text message is automatically delivered to the customer’s mobile phone if the car theft alarm is activated.
Sending an SMS to the customer’s registered mobile phone will stop the theft or towing of the customer’s vehicle if the vehicle theft alarm is activated.
- The signal from the car theft alarm is promptly sent to the Kia Connect Emergency Rescue Center.
- A SMS alerting the theft alarm is immediately sent to the customer’s mobile phone upon signal reception.
- Only when the vehicle’s theft alarm is engaged is a theft alarm notification given.
- Vehicles without a theft alarm system are not offered with Theft Alarm Notification.
- If any door, the engine hood, or the trunk locked by the smart key (or remote key) is opened without using the smart key, the vehicle theft alarm refers to the alarm by flashing emergency lights and activating the alert sound (or remote key).
- The general key can be used to activate or deactivate the theft alarm system in various automobiles (or spare key).
- Theft Alarm Notification is not activated if the door is locked with a key that is not the smart key.
To help prevent accidents, be aware of your driver’s driving circumstances and contact a representative.
In order to automatically detect and concentrate on driving when an alarm is triggered during the operation of the careless driving alarm system, this service establishes a direct telephone connection with Kia Connect counselors.
- The instrument cluster will be alerted to the careless driving situation in the event of a vehicle’s careless driving alarm.
- The Kia Connect emergency recovery center is immediately identified and linked to the customer’s vehicle phone if it is determined that the driver is engaging in careless driving.
- Only when an alarm sounds while the vehicle’s inadvertent driving alarm system is in operation is the inattentive driving notification service offered.
- Distracted driving The Inattentive Driving Notice Service is unavailable if the car does not have an alarm system.