By Shawn Henry 
5:00AM in Eureka shattered like a windshield when a standard cop shift spiraled into a mess of stolen rides, proving yet again that Kias and Hyundais remain jewel-soft targets nationwide. Around 5 a.m., cops rolled up on an attempted swipe—another Kia, naturally. Police believe the suspect used the same vulnerability that gained widespread attention in 2022, when teenagers began exploiting certain Kia and Hyundai models using simple tools.
Here’s where it got messy. Before the cavalry arrived, the owner squared off with the thief, who bolted in another whip. Bad move—cops warn these punks might look young but pack unpredictable heat.
Meanwhile, patrol units closing in spotted two more hot Kias peeling out of the zone. They flipped on the cherries; one driver played chicken, kicking off a wild goose chase through residential blocks. Officers called it off fast—kid was driving like a maniac. The stolen ride ping-ponged between dead ends before intentionally veering into a cop car, leaving it totaled.
Later, the Kia turned up ditched. K9s hit the scene, sniffing for clues, but before they got far, dispatch crackled with news of another Kia getting swiped across town. Three strikes before breakfast.
Eureka PD isn’t shocked. This is America’s new normal. Sure, Kia and Hyundai pushed software patches, but half the folks haven’t bothered updating. For older models? Good luck—the brands toss out steering wheel locks like candy, but thieves don’t care. Cops mutter the usual advice: park under lights, slap on alarms, maybe GPS tag your ride if you’re feeling fancy.
Bottom line? That quiet morning shift became a circus real fast. One minute you’re sipping coffee; the next, you’re counting wrecks and wondering why these cars might as well come with a “steal me” sign.
John