Hyundai and Kia cars get stolen with USB cable in TikTok challenge

A dangerous issue has gone viral on TikTok in the United States of America and has led to a huge increase in car theft by models. kia and gives Hyundai. In videos titledKia Challenge“, criminals are taught how to use USB cables to steal vehicles.

The criminals, dubbed the “Kia Boys”, operated in several American cities. In the city of Milwaukee, 60% of all stolen vehicles in 2021 were of both brands, up 2,500% from 2020. In St. Petersburg, Florida, 56 cars have been stolen since July 11, 23 of which are Hyundai and Kia models.

“Anyone who has a Kia/Hyundai using a key, please lock it properly.“, say the authorities, who further claim that Kia models produced from 2011 to 2012 and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021 have the vulnerability.

The video shows the thieves in action. They lift the cover of the column behind the wheel and, with the help of a cable, manage to connect to a certain circuit in order to start the car and escape. Most offenders are on average between 14 and 17 years old and commit crimes as part of the probation.

At the end of July, police in St. Petersburg, Florida noticed a similar increase and issued a warning to owners of both brands.

“KIA and Hyundai car theft alert! The police noticed an unusual trend. As of July 11, 23 of the 56 stolen vehicles are 2021 and earlier Kia/Hyundai models that use keys to start. Anyone with a KIA/Hyundai who uses the key **please** lock it“, the tweet read. Similar notices were posted by officials in Texas and Ohio.

According to Automotive News, the affected vehicles lack an electronic engine immobilizer that allows you to connect a cable to a specific point and start the engine without a key. The list includes 2011 model year Kia vehicles and 2015 model year Hyundai vehicles. Once stolen, the cars are used for vandalism and burglary.

Source: Automotive News, carbuzz.

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