My Kia got stolen thanks to a TikTok trend. Here's what I wish I had known before buying this car.

• A viral TikTok video surfaced in 2021 showing people how to hijack vulnerable Kias.
• Morgan Goldwich had her 2015 Kia Optima stolen at the end of 2023.

In December, I woke up to a text from my roommate asking if I was home. "Your car isn't here," she wrote, knowing my typical WFH schedule.

Half asleep, I assumed it was towed — they'd done that in our neighborhood before. But other cars remained along the street where I always parked mine.

When I went outside to investigate, crushed glass sparkling on the road where my 2015 Kia Optima had been the night before told me what I needed to know: I was the latest victim of a crime spree energized by TikTok.

I filed a police report and had to laugh when they mentioned the Kia Boys. I'd seen headlines about them: perpetrators of a trend where people — mostly teenagers — steal Kias and Hyundais, take them for joyrides, and dump them, often posting their escapades online.

In some capacity, I understood I was a target, but I never actually thought it would happen to me. I felt that my neighborhood was safe enough. And my car was old, scuffed up, and not worth very much. Who would want it? Turns out, I misjudged the power of the internet.

Not your average car theft

A viral TikTok dubbed the "Kia Challenge" surfaced in 2021, showing how to hijack vulnerable cars with just a USB cord.

Kia and Hyundai models manufactured within a specific period — between 2011 to 2021 for Kias and 2015 to 2021 for Hyundais — lack electronic immobilizers. This security feature requires a unique chip in the key for the car to start. When it's missing, thieves can smash a window, unscrew the steering column, insert a USB into the ignition, and drive off.

The popularization of these videos showcased just how simple of a process this is, and despite TikTok's attempts at removing these posts, its impact spread far and wide. A recent report found thefts of Hyundais and Kias saw a 1000% increase since 2020. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed.

Instead of being sold for parts, these stolen cars are generally taken for a ride and dumped, which makes them likely to be found following the theft, albeit damaged — mine was recovered in a parking lot a week after it was stolen.

Insurance companies have taken note

Despite my good fortune in finding my car (if you consider having to pay a $1,000 deductible for damages lucky), I'm now faced with the hurdle of dealing with car insurance.

During one of my many calls with my insurance, State Farm, over the past month, they informed me that they would no longer be insuring Kias or Hyundais in my area due to their proclivity for being stolen.

Because I'm extra lucky, where I live in Colorado has seen skyrocketing rates of car theft, and Kias and Hyundais comprised 30% of all car thefts in Colorado Springs as of late 2023. I was given an estimate of five weeks for my repairs to be done, partly due to the influx of these cars in shops.

But it's not just State Farm that refuses to insure my Kia model. When I was first searching for insurance, before my car got stolen, Progressive denied me on this same basis. Some insurance agencies even use a loophole to deny theft claims if the cars weren't processed for fingerprints.

What I wish I had done to protect myself and my car

While it's easy to point fingers at social media or individual owners for the rise in crime, Kia and Hyundai's failure to add immobilizers in manufacturing is the real culprit.

Both are issuing free software updates to affected owners to help curb the issue. You can also get free steering wheel locks from some law enforcement agencies or buy them online. Hyundai owners can purchase a customized security kit at their local dealers.

Moving forward, I'll be parking in the garage or in front of another car in the driveway so this doesn't happen again. Plus, while I have a Ring camera at my front door, adding an extra camera that faces the street could be another deterrent.

But perhaps my most failsafe option to avoid being victimized by the Kia Boys is never to buy one of these cars again.