AUSTIN, Texas — As Kia and Hyundai owners remain a target for thieves, social media videos are circulating in the Austin area of people committing crimes and calling themselves the "Kia Boyz."
The videos posted to various Instagram accounts show different people with their faces not shown breaking into Hyundais and Kias, as well as wreaking havoc on the roads. One video shows a cyclist being knocked down by a vehicle, while another shows those in a Hyundai passing a police vehicle.
The Austin Police Department (APD) said it is aware of the Instagram accounts and is following potential leads.
The viral videos come as Kia and Hyundai continue to ramp up efforts amid the TikTok challenge, which has led to lawsuits, car insurance roadblocks and a massive software installation required for hundreds of thousands of vehicles.
Dave VandeLinde, the vice president of Hyundai Motor America, said staff has been traveling across the country to set up clinics where customers can get a free software installation. He noted that the company has been dealing with the rapid increase of thefts since the summer of 2021, and Hyundai's sole focus since then has been providing that extra layer of protection.
"We can do upwards of 800 vehicles a day while we're in town for a full weekend clinic," VandeLinde said. "We work with [customers] to make sure that we can educate the customers in the areas just on kind of safe parking practices, right? Parking well known areas, well-lit, attended."
VandeLinde said the company has been partnering with police departments nationwide to identify the cities that need the most resources. On June 1, Hyundai workers will be in Austin to set up a clinic in partnership with APD.
"You know, no one's probably more looking forward to the return of the Ice Bucket Challenge than I am. But right now, you know, we're out there with huge resources traveling the country," VandeLinde said.
APD released data that showed that, as of April 2024, there were 769 thefts that involved Kias and Hyundais. The department saw 2,364 total thefts over the course of 2023