Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/The Ceres Courier
If you hoped the Kia Challenge would slow down after the release of an anti-theft software patch, man, you were wrong. The Kia Boys seem to be more active than ever before, not only finding new ways to break into cars but also using the good old trick to steal vehicles that haven't already been patched.
One of the latest cases where the Kia Boys took the center role happened in Ceres, California, where a group of four teenagers stole an SUV for the same already frustrating reason: to have fun driving it on public roads and likely record all their stunts for Internet views.
The youngest in the group was 13, while the oldest was 16. All four targeted a Kia Sorento and managed to break inside before hotwiring the SUV using a method learned online. Videos showing teenagers how to start a Kia and Hyundai car without an immobilizer are still online, so the Kia Boys now need only 25 seconds to drive away in an unpatched vehicle.
The four juveniles took off in the Sorento but were eventually spotted by a patrol car at 10:08 PM. You'd probably wonder why a 13-year-old boy is out so late, but I'm not here to answer ridiculous questions – and we all know the answer anyway.
Ceres Police Sgt. Aaron Pinon requested backup and followed the vehicle until more units arrived. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the 16-year-old driver fled and started acting recklessly, becoming a threat to everybody on the road. The ground units called in a helicopter, which tracked the vehicle from the air.
The experienced driver (sense the tone, please) eventually crashed into a pole of a McDonald's restaurant, and the Kia Boys did the thing all of them do after wreaking a car with the police on their tail. They abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot. It didn't take long for all to get caught.
You're probably wondering what happened next, but unfortunately, you already know the answer, not just from the headline but also because most Kia and Hyundai owners are already familiar with how the justice system works. The 16YO was booked into the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall, while the rest of the Kia Boys were let go and received citations for resisting arrests. They are now home, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them returning to the streets for more good deeds.
Meanwhile, Kia and Hyundai insist on patching your car. The free update does its job, the carmakers claim, and it only takes 30 minutes to install it. If you can't patch your car, the least you can do is install a steering wheel lock. This won't stop the Kia Boys from breaking your window, but at least, they won't drive away in your car.
The youngest in the group was 13, while the oldest was 16. All four targeted a Kia Sorento and managed to break inside before hotwiring the SUV using a method learned online. Videos showing teenagers how to start a Kia and Hyundai car without an immobilizer are still online, so the Kia Boys now need only 25 seconds to drive away in an unpatched vehicle.
The four juveniles took off in the Sorento but were eventually spotted by a patrol car at 10:08 PM. You'd probably wonder why a 13-year-old boy is out so late, but I'm not here to answer ridiculous questions – and we all know the answer anyway.
Ceres Police Sgt. Aaron Pinon requested backup and followed the vehicle until more units arrived. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the 16-year-old driver fled and started acting recklessly, becoming a threat to everybody on the road. The ground units called in a helicopter, which tracked the vehicle from the air.
The experienced driver (sense the tone, please) eventually crashed into a pole of a McDonald's restaurant, and the Kia Boys did the thing all of them do after wreaking a car with the police on their tail. They abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot. It didn't take long for all to get caught.
You're probably wondering what happened next, but unfortunately, you already know the answer, not just from the headline but also because most Kia and Hyundai owners are already familiar with how the justice system works. The 16YO was booked into the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall, while the rest of the Kia Boys were let go and received citations for resisting arrests. They are now home, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them returning to the streets for more good deeds.
Meanwhile, Kia and Hyundai insist on patching your car. The free update does its job, the carmakers claim, and it only takes 30 minutes to install it. If you can't patch your car, the least you can do is install a steering wheel lock. This won't stop the Kia Boys from breaking your window, but at least, they won't drive away in your car.
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