South Korean automaker Kia brought its anti-theft clinic to the Mall of America this weekend to help owners protect their cars, a popular target for thieves since a social media challenge encouraging people to steal them went viral.
Thefts of Kia vehicles across the nation and in the Twin Cities spiked after videos made popular on the platform TikTok by the “Kia Boys” exposed a flaw in models manufactured between 2011 and 2022, which use steel keys that made them susceptible to car thieves.
“We know the Twin Cities has been heavily impacted by this,” said James Bell, head of Kia’s corporate communications, explaining why the automaker set up its clinic in a parking lot outside the Bloomington mall. “We are doing the best we can to provide assistance.”
Kia technicians installed theft-deterring software or heavy metal ignition sleeve protectors at no charge for owners whose vehicles qualified for the free upgrades. In less than 20 minutes, Brian Haug of Burnsville had his 2020 Kia updated and back on the road.
“It’s a big concern,” he said about his vehicle being vulnerable to theft. “I can’t drive it to downtown Minneapolis to go to Twins games, theater or concerts. Something is better than nothing.”
Joe and Sadie Fischer of St. Paul thought the upgrade might help keep their car insurance premiums from going up. It also gave them an excuse to visit the Mall of America, they said.
In just over three hours Friday morning, Kia technicians flown in from Detroit serviced 29 vehicles, installing ignition sleeves in 14 cars and updating software in 15 others. The software, Bell says, “talks to the brains of the vehicle,” sounds an alarm and won’t allow the car to start if somebody tampers with the ignition.
“Most perpetrators are teens, and we’re hoping when they see the sleeves they just move on,” Bell said.
