Car owners beware! Lessons from the 'Kia Boys' crime spree

For car owners in Los Angeles, a UCLA anthropologist named Jeffrey Brantingham has some crucial advice: safeguard your Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, or one of 18 other similar models. These vehicles have become increasingly vulnerable to theft since 2020, a trend that has since spread nationwide. Brantingham's interdisciplinary research, published in the International Journal of Forecasting, reveals that the surge in auto thefts is due to a confluence of factors, including social media trends, the COVID-19 pandemic, car manufacturer decisions, and media coverage.

Using models and data from the Los Angeles Police Department, the study predicts that the theft surge will continue in Los Angeles at least until 2042, and possibly through 2050.

Brantingham emphasizes the importance of anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks and engine immobilizers. These features, which are standard in most modern cars, prevent theft by making it a low-skilled crime. During the pandemic, when cars were parked for long periods and young people had more free time, inexperienced thieves found it easy to steal these vehicles by dismantling the steering wheel casing and exposing the starter.

Social media played a significant role in amplifying this crime, with YouTube and TikTok videos providing step-by-step instructions on how to commit the theft, often titled "Kia Boys" or "Kia Challenge."

Interestingly, Brantingham notes that social media and traditional media both contributed to the theft surge. While the initial discovery of the vulnerability was made without social media, the videos amplified the activity and provided instructions to naive car thieves. Moreover, the researchers found that crime hotspots move with the underlying new-used car market.

Cars vulnerable to theft often start life in affluent areas before ending up in less affluent areas many years later. This means that even in areas that have long forgotten the vulnerability, newer cars may still be at risk.

Brantingham advises car buyers to opt for models with electronic engine immobilizers or to install a steering wheel lock if the car doesn't come equipped with one. He also encourages purchasing any available recalls for improved anti-theft technology and taking advantage of compensation packages offered by car manufacturers. Despite living in one of the safest times ever recorded, car theft remains a common issue.

Brantingham's research highlights the complex interplay between online and offline environments in shaping human behavior, providing valuable insights into the human condition.