Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Kia
Owning a Kia or a Hyundai these days is not easy. The Kia Boys show no signs of slowing down, as they keep stealing cars that are vulnerable to the infamous Kia Challenge, so no Kia and Hyundai are safe when parked outside.
You'd think that your car won't be targeted because your model year is not affected by the lack of immobilizers. The problem is that the Kia Boys don't seem to care, and the moment they see a Kia or Hyundai parked on the side of the road, they go crazy. They might eventually walk away empty-handed because they couldn't start your car, but they still break the side window or produce other damage to attempt to steal it.
This is why authorities in Wheaton, Illinois, have decided to join the club of cities in the United States that try to combat the Kia Challenge madness with free anti-theft devices.
The local officials have announced a giveaway problem that includes free steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners who live or work in Wheaton and own one of the vehicles exposed to the infamous hack. Eligible residents must own a 2011-2021 Hyundai or Kia vehicle with a turn-to-start key ignition system, so if your car has a push-to-start, you won't get the free steering wheel lock.
Eligible Kia and Hyundai owners in Wheaton must contact the local police department by calling 630-260-2161. Authorities have also released an online request form where owners can request a steering wheel lock as part of this program.
Meanwhile, owners of these vulnerable vehicles are being told to park in well-lit areas, lock valuables in the trunk or take them with them when leaving the car, and never leave the vehicle running on the side of the road. However, as many people learned the hard way, the Kia Boys don't care if a vulnerable Kia or Hyundai is parked in plain sight and aren't interested in valuables. They only want the car, and even if they don't spot a vehicle left running, they have their own means of driving away.
Kia and Hyundai have already released anti-theft patches, and if your vehicle is eligible for the software update, you should install it as soon as possible. A steering wheel lock can act as a deterrent for thieves if they have the courtesy of looking through the window inside the car, but most Kia Boys just break a glass to get inside without even checking what's in the cabin.
It's been estimated that the most experienced Kia Boys need only 25 seconds to steal a car. In most cases, the method involves breaking a window, removing the steering wheel column, and exposing the ignition for hotwiring.
This is why authorities in Wheaton, Illinois, have decided to join the club of cities in the United States that try to combat the Kia Challenge madness with free anti-theft devices.
The local officials have announced a giveaway problem that includes free steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners who live or work in Wheaton and own one of the vehicles exposed to the infamous hack. Eligible residents must own a 2011-2021 Hyundai or Kia vehicle with a turn-to-start key ignition system, so if your car has a push-to-start, you won't get the free steering wheel lock.
Eligible Kia and Hyundai owners in Wheaton must contact the local police department by calling 630-260-2161. Authorities have also released an online request form where owners can request a steering wheel lock as part of this program.
Meanwhile, owners of these vulnerable vehicles are being told to park in well-lit areas, lock valuables in the trunk or take them with them when leaving the car, and never leave the vehicle running on the side of the road. However, as many people learned the hard way, the Kia Boys don't care if a vulnerable Kia or Hyundai is parked in plain sight and aren't interested in valuables. They only want the car, and even if they don't spot a vehicle left running, they have their own means of driving away.
Kia and Hyundai have already released anti-theft patches, and if your vehicle is eligible for the software update, you should install it as soon as possible. A steering wheel lock can act as a deterrent for thieves if they have the courtesy of looking through the window inside the car, but most Kia Boys just break a glass to get inside without even checking what's in the cabin.
It's been estimated that the most experienced Kia Boys need only 25 seconds to steal a car. In most cases, the method involves breaking a window, removing the steering wheel column, and exposing the ignition for hotwiring.
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