If you drive an older Kia or Hyundai, Portsmouth police say it’s time to pay a little extra attention to where you park it.
Police issued a warning about the “Kia Boys” or “Kia Boyz,” the name used for a loose social-media-driven trend involving people stealing certain older Kia and Hyundai vehicles, often for joyrides, reckless driving, and online attention.
Portsmouth police are encouraging anyone whose vehicle is damaged or targeted to file a police report, even if the thieves don’t actually get away with the car.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity around vehicles can contact Portsmouth police at (740) 353-4101.
Why Kias and Hyundais?
The problem exploded nationally after videos began circulating online showing how thieves could steal certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles that used traditional keys and were not equipped with engine immobilizers.
An immobilizer is an anti-theft feature that prevents a car from starting unless it recognizes the proper key.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the problem affected millions of vehicles and prompted both Kia and Hyundai to offer free anti-theft software upgrades.
Hyundai says the most vulnerable vehicles are generally older turn-key-to-start models without immobilizers. Newer Hyundais produced after November 2021 have immobilizers as standard equipment.
Kia has also offered free anti-theft software updates for millions of affected vehicles. NHTSA has urged Kia owners to contact the company to determine whether their particular vehicle qualifies.
So simply owning a Kia or Hyundai does not automatically mean your vehicle can be stolen using the method popularized online.
Model, year, ignition type, and whether the vehicle already has an immobilizer all matter.
We Found “Kia Boyz” Online — But No Portsmouth Connection
A quick look around social media shows the “Kia Boyz” name is still very much alive.
SCDN located a Facebook profile using the Kia Boyz name that includes posts and comments apparently celebrating Kia and Hyundai thefts and showing what appears to be stolen-vehicle activity.
There are also numerous other pages, profiles, mentions, and videos using variations of the name.
What we did not find was anything connecting those accounts directly to Portsmouth or proving that any particular online “Kia Boyz” account is responsible for thefts here.
That distinction matters.
The Portsmouth Police Department’s warning alerts local owners to the theft trend. It does not identify a specific local gang or social-media account as responsible.
How Can You Protect Your Car?
Owners of older Kia and Hyundai vehicles should first find out whether their vehicle qualifies for the manufacturer’s free anti-theft upgrade.
Hyundai says eligible software changes the vehicle so locking it with the key fob activates an “ignition kill” feature designed to defeat the theft method spread on social media.
NHTSA also recommends visible physical anti-theft devices such as steering-wheel locks, which can make a car less attractive to someone looking for a quick theft.
Other basic precautions still matter: lock the doors, close the windows, don’t leave keys in the vehicle, park in well-lit areas when possible, and don’t leave valuables visible inside.
And even owners who have already received the software upgrade may want a visible steering-wheel lock.
The reason is simple: a thief looking through a window may not know your car has already been fixed.
They can still break a window and tear apart an ignition before discovering the vehicle won’t start.
Report the Attempt, Too
That is also why Portsmouth police are asking people to report damage and attempted thefts, not just cars that actually disappear.
An attempted theft still helps police identify where vehicles are being targeted and whether several incidents may be connected.
For owners of the affected cars, the days of the “Kia Challenge” going viral may seem like old news.
The damage it created apparently isn’t.