Kia Boy Caught Driving Stolen Hyundai, He Obviously Skipped Technology Class

A Kia Boy from Cecil County probably skipped the technology class as he jumped into a Hyundai, stole it using the infamous method that involves ripping off the steering wheel column, and drove away as if it was his car.

However, the 15-year-old thief wannabe didn't even think that the owner might be following their vehicle using a tracking app. Local media claims the owner rapidly found the car and tracked its location in real time using a mobile app—he probably used Bluelink, but anyone can do the same with an AirTag via the Find My app on their iPhone (something the Kia Boy should have known).

The owner alerted the cops and provided the officers on the ground with the vehicle's coordinates. Minutes later, the first patrol car intercepted the stolen Hyundai, with more policemen joining the chase as they tried to box it in.

Like any other Kia Boy, the 15-year-old driver abandoned the vehicle and tried to escape on foot. He entered a nearby forest, hoping police wouldn't find him. And they didn't, but the moment he walked out of the woods, he was busted.

The teenager was arrested, and it's believed he's part of the Kia Boys gang, also responsible for several other car thefts in the region.

The Kia Boys trend isn't coming to an end, despite Kia and Hyundai releasing an anti-theft software update and advertising it heavily. The two carmakers have worked with authorities in several regions to set up software clinics where Hyundai and Kia owners could bring their cars and get the software update that would prevent a thief from starting the engine.

However, the bigger problem is now that the Kia Boys break into cars without first checking if they have already received the anti-theft software update. Kia and Hyundai offer stickers that owners can install on the vehicle windows to let potential thieves that the software vulnerability has already been patched. However, the Kia Boys rarely look for the sticker, and the moment they spot a Kia or a Hyundai parked on the side of the road, they approach it and immediately break its window.

Many eventually walk away without the car, leaving behind damages worth thousands of dollars.

Police also tell Hyundai and Kia owners to install steering wheel locks in their cars. These locks can prevent a thief from driving away even if the software update wasn't installed. In some cases, a steering wheel lock can also act as a deterrent for thieves if they spot the device before they break the window.