Photo: djedzura / iStock / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- A social media trend is fueling a rise in vehicle thefts across Des Moines, with police warning that teens are increasingly getting behind the wheel of stolen cars.
"We are finding more and more often that people stealing these cars are teenagers or kids. They are inexperienced drivers to begin with," said Sergeant Paul Parizek with the Des Moines Police Department. "Then they catch onto these internet trends, particularly this 'Kia Boys' thing, where they find online tutorials on how to steal cars and get behind the wheel and drive them very carelessly."
The online trend, known as "Kia Boys," has risen in popularity over the past few years, causing an uptick in vehicle thefts throughout Des Moines, particularly by teens. Videos online show how to easily hotwire specific Hyundai and Kia models. Parizek said he’s seen videos where a car is successfully hotwired in under 30 seconds.
"This year so far, Kias and Hyundais make up 27 percent of our stolen cars. So this is something that is kind of specific to those two vehicles. About that ten-year period from 2011 to 2021, there was a vulnerability in the ignition system. Someone figured out how to defeat it, and then they started posting it online," said Parizek.
While vehicle thefts are down 17% nationally, Des Moines has seen a 4% increase. Nearly 500 cars have been stolen in the city so far this year, compared to 1,000 total in 2023.
Parizek reports that in the last seven years, seven teenagers have been killed while driving stolen cars in Des Moines. "If that doesn't get somebody's attention, we don't know what else will."
To raise awareness during National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, Des Moines Police will be handing out a limited number of steering wheel locks at the Downtown Farmers’ Market tomorrow.
Police are reminding people to protect their vehicles by:
- Parking in well-lit areas
- Closing and locking all windows and doors when parked
- Hiding valuables
- Not leaving keys in the car
- Not leaving the car running
- Considering extra layers of protection for the vehicle