The Albuquerque Police Department is warning the community about concerning trends on social media following a weekend bait truck theft involving an underage child.
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, APD's Auto Theft Unit received a report of a city-owned bait truck stolen from an apartment complex parking lot in northeast Albuquerque. Surprisingly, teenagers and underage children jumped into the car.
While auto theft detectives monitored the boy's movements inside the car using hidden cameras, a 15-year-old male used a screwdriver to destroy the ignition system and turn on the car.
It was clear that the children were not of driving age, so detectives continued to closely monitor the situation and identified the two teens who were taking turns driving. At one point during the Teens Joy Ride, two minor children, ages 5 and 10, were also in the vehicle without seat belts or child restraints.
Detectives were able to safely approach the children after parking their decoy vehicle. In an interview, one of the teens (15 years old) admitted that he learned how to steal Kia cars through “Kia Boys” on Instagram.
A social media trend has been gaining momentum after a group of teenagers going by the hashtag “Kia Boyz” learned that certain models of Kia and Hyundai cars are easy to steal. The group started documenting vehicle thefts on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. It appears some young people are copying this trend and proving it can be done, and other institutions across the country are also grappling with this worrying trend.
“Social media is a double-edged sword; while it is a great way to share information, it can also be used as a tool and means to engage in dangerous and harmful activities,” said APD Chief Harold Medina. ” he said. Fortunately, no one was harmed in this situation, but this is a strong reminder for parents to monitor what their children are viewing online. ”
APD is also in the planning stages of purchasing wheel locks for car owners as another way to prevent car theft. The devices will be distributed at Auto Theft VIN etching events held across the city.
