13YO Girl Steals Car Parked With Keys Inside, Takes Friends for Joyride at Crime Scene

A group of teenagers from Singapore certainly agree this is a valid point, as they recently came across a car left with the keys inside and decided to go for it.

It all started when the 37-year-old had the brilliant idea (ironically speaking) of parking his car in a multistorey park with the keys inside. The reason makes sense, at least according to the owner. Occasionally, when they unlock the vehicle with the key, the alarm is triggered, making a lot of noise and catching everybody's attention.

The man and his wife wanted to avoid this, so they left the car in their apartment building without locking the doors and with the key inside. This is mistake #1.

The man explained he does this regularly, as they don't want to trigger the alarm every time they get behind the wheel. He says he never thought someone would steal the car. This is mistake #2.

Shortly after arriving home, the man returned to the vehicle to pick up his camera but found another car parked in his spot. He called his wife to double-check where he had parked the car, and after a short conversation, he realized someone had stolen it.

The man called the police to report the theft, and a patrol car in the region arrived shortly at the multistorey park to file the report.

It didn't take long before something unexpected happened. The owner thought he heard the engine of his car, so he started looking around, believing the vehicle was parked on another spot. However, he spotted his car moving, and a group of teenagers, including a 13-year-old, were found inside.

He alerted the police, who proceeded to stop the vehicle and extract all passengers. All were aged 13 to 16 and were apparently on a joyride. It looks like the teens stole the car, picked up a few more friends, and eventually went on a joyride right at the crime scene.

Surprisingly, the vehicle didn't have a single scratch, so the teen behind the wheel was an experienced driver. They also didn't break anything, as the car left unlocked with the key inside was an open door to a joyride.

Teens stealing cars has become a common headline in news worldwide, mainly in the United States, due to the infamous Kia Challenge.

A video posted on social media in 2021 taught teenagers how to steal certain Kia and Hyundai models lacking an immobilizer. The method involved a USB cable connected to the ignition after exposing the wires by removing the steering wheel column.

However, compared to the teens in Singapore, the Kia Boys had to learn more advanced techniques, as they also needed to break into vehicles using various approaches, most often breaking the driver's window. Most recently, they've started removing the door handles, opening the doors, and getting inside to hotwire the car.

Like the Singaporean teens, the Kia Boys steal cars for joyrides and Internet views. They record their stunts and post the videos online, bragging about their adventures. However, most of these stunts end with crashed cars and major accidents unless the police get in the way and catch them before it's too late.

Kia and Hyundai have already stepped in and tried to bring the Kia Challenge to an end with anti-theft patches that prevent the engine from starting without the key. However, not everybody installed the software update, and recent statistics indicate that nearly 30% of Hyundai owners have not deployed the patch.

Police tell car owners to install additional anti-theft hardware, including steering wheel locks and GPS trackers, to prevent the vehicles from being stolen and to determine their location if the Kia Boys manage to drive away.

Unfortunately, cat theft has become a common activity among teenagers, and statistics released by police worldwide show a worrying trend.

The Victoria Police in Australia shared numbers showing that the number of car thefts involving teens as young as 14 years old has increased by 52.7% in 2023. Over 1,700 car thefts reported in 2023 were conducted by children.

Similar trends have also been shared by the LAPD in Los Angeles, where the number of car thefts increased by as much as 51% in certain regions. Dozens of teens were arrested for being involved in stealing cars, most often Hyundais and Kias, with some as young as 12.

Police worldwide continue to tell car owners to follow the typical recommendations and avoid parking their vehicles with keys inside, doors unlocked, and anything that might sound like a no-brainer for some. Anti-theft hardware like steering wheel locks could also help prevent teens from breaking inside.