Police say that the youngster learned the skill on TikTok from the KiaBoyz
4 hours ago
Most 14-year-olds live normal lives but one in Plano, Texas engaged in serious criminal activity. A homeowner caught the kid in the process of stealing a car. Police say that during their investigation, they learned that this same boy is connected to almost 40 thefts or theft attempts.
Social media helped to spread the news that some Kia and Hyundai models are incredibly easy to steal once one is into the cabin. The cars in question don’t have an engine immobilizer so once someone removes the ignition cylinder, starting the car is only a twist away.
That seems to be exactly what the young man from Plano did, allegedly 39 times. “The juveniles are looking online to see how they can steal the vehicles, and they’re sharing it with each other just like they would any other platform,” said Officer Jennifer Chapman who spoke to FOX4.
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More: New York City Sues Hyundai And Kia Over Easy-To-Steal Cars
She also seemed to almost blame the victims in these cases saying “We want to harden the target… We want them to go get the wheel locks, to go get the software updates, and that way if somebody is looking inside your vehicle they won’t see it as an easy opportunity to commit this crime.” Hyundai and Kia have both offered a few different methods to help owners deter theft.
That includes a free software update, The Club wheel lock, and a third-party immobilizer for a few hundred dollars. Still, many government officials have said that the automakers haven’t done enough.
Some cities have threatened or launched lawsuits and some insurance companies aren’t covering the affected models. Reports in May suggested that the company settled a class-action lawsuit over the issue for some $200 million. In the case of this particular car thief, the future is more murky.
Since he’s a juvenile he’ll likely face far less stringent penalties than an adult would. Police didn’t release any other information about the kid.