“Kia Boyz” viral trend leading to car thefts across the country now hitting metro Atlanta

Charlie King told Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon that thieves stole his Kia from a parking lot in Buckhead just last week.

“My best friend came into the house and told me my car wasn’t outside,” said King. “So, for me, I’m thinking my best friend is joking around.”

He believes he’s one of the latest victims of the so-called Kia Boyz – thieves who made viral TikTok videos that show viewers how to easily steal many Kias and Hyundais.

“It’s really crazy to think that it’s so accessible,” said King. “That all someone has to do is just break the glass and just go right in and take your car.”

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While Atlanta Police do not want to reveal what makes the cars easier to steal, they are encouraging Atlantans with Kias and Hyundais built before 2022 to buy a steering wheel locking device to protect their vehicle.

King believes the cars should be recalled to fix their vulnerabilities.

“Y’all can’t put a recall on a car to get fixed for your customers that’s paying this amount of money for your cars,” asked King.

A Kia spokesperson told Channel 2 that all of the company’s cars meet or exceed federal safety standards and said the company is providing free steering wheel locks to police departments across the country to hand out.

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Meanwhile, Hyundai says it will roll out security kits for their cars starting next month, but Hyundai owners will need to buy them.

For King, it all comes too late. He believes his car is gone for good.

“I have no faith in that at all whatsoever,” said King.

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