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A Kia which was damaged after being stolen is seen at an auto repair shop in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Automakers Hyundai and Kia are offering software updates for millions of their vehicles that are missing a “key” anti-theft device, an issue that was exploited on social media and led to rampant theft of the cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 that the software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.

An employee carries out quality checks under the hood of a Hyundai Kuna electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) on the final assembly line at the Hyundai Motor Co. plant in Nosovice, Czech Republic, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. With Europe expected to lead the world in electric-car sales for a second straight year, an epic rush to build a battery-supply chain from scratch is playing out across the continent.

About a week ago, an undercover Houston Police Department officer found a stolen Hyundai with a USB cord jammed into its ignition.

Police say there has been a rise in thefts of certain models of Kia and Hyundai cars in Houston, and that some of them are linked to an emerging TikTok trend that teaches would-be thieves how to snatch the cars using readily available USB cords.

Thieves are using USB cables and similar items to hot wire cars, turning them on without the ignition key, police said. The cars are susceptible because cheaper Kias and Hyundais don't have certain safety measures, allowing thieves to start them by jamming objects into the ignition.

"It really doesn't take any expertise to do it," Hicks said.

Sgt. Tracy Hicks with Houston Police Auto Theft Crimes Task Force said depending on the vehicle, a customer could prevent the problem with a software upgrade or a steering wheel lock.

About 3.8 million Hyundais and 4.5 million Kias are susceptible to this sort of theft, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At least 14 crashes and eight deaths are connected to the thefts, the agency said last Monday.

January saw 35 Hyundai Sonatas and 29 Hyundai Elantras stolen in Houston, Hicks said. The number of Kias stolen wasn't available. 

Often people will take the car on a joyride and take videos for Internet fame, Hicks said. Prior to October, Kias and Hyundais weren't popular targets for theft, he added

“They're all 16- to 19-year-olds,” Hicks said. “They're filming themselves and they're literally using these cars as bumper cars. They are trashing them.”

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Most vehicle thefts in Houston happen for the purpose of using the car in another crime such as a robbery, Hicks said. But this rash of thefts seems to be happening for the sake of fun and internet notoriety.

“They're literally bouncing off (parked) cars all the way, like literally they try to hit every car they can and they all giggle and they get the video … they eventually run over something and they disable the car, they jump out. One guy’s filming them and they run off and giggle and laugh about how awesome they are.”

Owners can contact Hyundai at 800-633-5151 and Kia at 800-333-4542 for more information on how to safeguard their vehicles. The companies are rolling out free upgrades for affected models later this month.

Hicks said the thefts can be “devastating” to families and car owners who can’t afford to replace their cars after the theft.

“What about a single mom?” Hicks said. “If you're driving a Hyundai or Kia, there's a reason you're driving a Hyundai or Kia. You don't have a lot a lot of money. … It's devastating to that mom. That’s what hurts my heart.”

Bailey Gallion is the public safety agency and trends reporter for the Houston Chronicle.

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