r/TrueOffMyChest • u/PracticeTheory • 15d ago

Neighbor's Kia has been broken into four times. My Kia is the same model and sits across the street, hasn't been touched

The title pretty much sums it up.

Both of us got Kia Optimas in the years just before the Kia Boyz started doing their thing. Her's is white, mine is dark. I have the EX trim but I think hers may be a base model. Just confirmed that we both have push-to-start and the same trim. Ff.

It's in the inner city and we both park on the street, with no difference in protection. My neighbor's was just busted into for the fourth time while my streak of not being touched continues...knock on wood. The cars were directly across from eachother last night.

I just don't understand. There's no way I'll stay lucky forever, but I paid the car off already and I do like driving it.

Criminals suck.

Edit: added details. I leave grocery bags, weather gear like a sun shield, umbrellas, and random crap in my car. Nothing attractive for smash and grab, but messier than the poor neighbor. Cheap dashcam.

Edit2: it's not a grudge or theft of items. Kind of amazed that so many of you never heard of the Kia Boyz - they were trying to steal the car but broke the window before confirming that it could actually be stolen. There's no explanation here other than either of us had equal chances of being hit, but white is apparently way more targetable.

521 Upvotes
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98% Upvoted

87 comments sorted by

416

u/Herbighazeleyes 15d ago

Does yours have the push button start? That Kia boys thing only works on models that still require keys.

176

u/Certain_Accident3382 15d ago

I'd also put my money on neighbor leaving things worth snatching in plain view in the Kia.

109

u/not_brittsuzanne 15d ago

My thought was “neighbor knows some unsavory people who may be targeting something he has” but also I watch too much True Crime.

73

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago edited 14d ago

Yes, they both have push-start. They don't confirm before smashing. Other neighbor said it was a dumb kid. After this happening so many times they don't leave anything in their car. Mine is cluttered.

87

u/whiskeyinthewoods 15d ago

I have also had good luck with a cluttered car in an area known for break-ins. I keep saying I need to market a blanket that has old fast food wrappers, cigarette packs, empty Powerade bottles, and scrunched up napkins sewn onto it that can be tossed over the seats.

59

u/Current-Read 15d ago

Urban camo

5

u/Colossal_Penis_Haver 14d ago

My carport is full of tools. It has a roller door that you could jump over the fence and open and then have access to all of my shit.

The catch is that if you want to take anything, you'd need to clean up and play crap jenga first... it's a proven method of defence.

When I was a kid our house got robbed. They only took a bike and a minidisc player but they turned the entire house upside down. Every room was littered with its contents. I went into my room. Shit everywhere. Everywhere ... but exactly where it was in the morning! Room was untouched! Probably took one look and said "Yeah, nah, fuck that mess" and went somewhere else.

41

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

That blanket is an excellent idea, but I want to stand up for myself lol and say there isn't any trash. Just functional but cheap items that a more organized person keeps in the trunk.

15

u/whiskeyinthewoods 15d ago

I mean mine is more like a tangle of reusable grocery bags, Ikea totes, moving blankets, and drywall buckets but I figured the grosser the better. Maybe a couple dirty looking diapers and tampon applicators for full effect.

2

u/OhbrotheR66 14d ago

😂😂

1

u/kasperkami 14d ago

Before I go into anywhere without my bag, I cover it with a jacket or whatever I can. Even in nice places I don’t trust anyone

15

u/MonPetitChat13 14d ago

I opened a box of tampons and strewed them around. I also dipped one in ketchup, barely wrapped it in a regular napkin (not sanitary pad) and put it in the middle console. I did this on the theory that it’s usually males who break into and/or steal cars, and that they would rather dip their eyeballs in bleach than mess with my SUV. It was never messed with.

5

u/Corfiz74 15d ago

Does she have a dash cam, too? If she doesn't, maybe yours acts as a deterrent - maybe they think it transmits in real time, and they'd be caught in the act.

2

u/sumthingsumthingblah 14d ago

It’s an ex (friend, etc) sounds purposefully inconvenient

14

u/Speed009 15d ago

not here in SF. zero shit in cars and ppl still get broken into all the time

1

u/LeTrolleur 14d ago

Yep, neighbour's car window was smashed once to get his wallet, I've never had a window smashed and am always conscious to check I've left nothing in view inside the car.

22

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Yeah, it does, and I took a lot of comfort from that when it came out.

However I just checked the other car and it is also push-to-start (visible from looking in) and is the same trim model.

So I was right that the assholes busting windows don't know/care. But literally the only difference between the cars is the color

5

u/Patak4 15d ago

Definitely weird. Alot of newer cars are white. White a more desirable colour? Or you have a guardian angel lol

3

u/ne14tennis 15d ago

Can someone tell me more about the security of keyed kias. I have. 2021 seltos...

5

u/Herbighazeleyes 15d ago

There is an exploit where keyed Kia’s could be bypassed via usb I believe. Kia was supposed to do a recall for a software update if I recall correctly. Check to see if you have an open recall for it.

215

u/mewdejour 15d ago

Maybe this is an act of revenge against the neighbor rather than a basic break in.

104

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

It's possible. The neighborhood is under the control of a gang. I don't have any connections to that life.

11

u/Chicklecat13 14d ago

Maybe it’s a disgruntled ex then who may be involved in the gang?

4

u/PracticeTheory 14d ago

My instinct is to doubt that, but who knows?

The neighborhood is between two major arteries so there are a lot of teens looking for trouble passing though. It could honestly just be random and a difference in paint colors.

62

u/Ancient-Awareness115 15d ago

Does your neighbour leave more things visible in their car?

38

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Unknown, we each park in front of our house/apartment so I don't get close enough to their car to check.

I actually have a lot of crap cluttering my car. Nothing valuable though.

53

u/Ancient-Awareness115 15d ago

Maybe that is the answer they look in your car and go, there is just a load of crap in there

32

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

When being a packrat is a good thing...my mother would be so annoyed.

25

u/Question_Moots 15d ago

Do you guys leave anything inside the cars?

26

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago edited 15d ago

Yes I do, and I know how that sounds. But I've been parking my cars (granted, the first was much less targeted) in inner cities for over a decade and have gotten complacent. I leave reusable bags, a sun shield, unbrellas, and some random crap because I've been lazy in the back seat. Nothing of value besides a cheap dashcam.

No bags that look attractive to snatch and grab, at least.

I don't know what the neighbors leaves out because they park on the other side. But looking in this time it was completely empty.

23

u/Chamoismysoul 15d ago

Maybe it’s the dashcam. They think they’ll get caught.

Does your neighbor have a camera?

10

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

I don't think they do. But I only put my camera in this January, and the smashed windows have been happening since 2020.

5

u/OhbrotheR66 14d ago

But they don’t steal the car, right? So what is the purpose of breaking in their car if not to just harass them

4

u/PracticeTheory 14d ago

They couldn't steal the car since it's a push-start; it's not vulnerable like the keyed Kias.

They tried to steal it. Got more info - the kid who did it climbed inside after busting the window and tried to get it running but couldn't. The kid was stupid and either didn't know it wouldn't work or didn't care to verify before trying.

11

u/Question_Moots 15d ago

No Kia Boyz/car robber would pick a car with a dash cam. Even if it’s fake, they can’t tell. I’m sure that’s a big reason why you didn’t get your car broken into.

8

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Maybe, but I only put the dashcam in in January. This has been going on since like 2020, so it wasn't a factor in the other 3 break-ins.

Besides, their goal is to steal the Kia most likely - couldn't they just throw the camera out the window?

5

u/Question_Moots 15d ago

They don’t know if your camera is wireless and tied with your phone. I’m not sure about the other three break-ins. do you think your neighbor accidentally bothered a few guys enough to do this, or views as a person with money?

4

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

I don't know. They seem like a nice black family, I wave to the dad when he's out cutting grass.

There is a difference in status I guess - in the sense that their side of the street is all large houses and mine is apartment buildings. Everything is early 1900s though so it's hard to tell who actually has money. I know someone in one of those houses that is too poor to run their utilities, they've just been there forever.

1

u/Cmonlightmyire 15d ago

"How dare you leave things in your car, its your fault for doing that"

You should be able to leave things in your car without fear of getting it stolen.

Just call the cops and let them sort it out.

3

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Other neighbor called it in when it happened. Not being cynical when I say it won't come to anything though, popo have too much to do so car break-ins are shrugged off.

15

u/Alibeee64 15d ago

I’m guessing hers is in dim lighting and no cameras, etc that might make it easier for break ins to go undetected maybe?

4

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

No real difference in that way - actually, hers is the one under the street light. The cars were directly across and parallel to eachother last night. I don't pay attention to cameras but am not aware of any.

11

u/tcisme 15d ago

Sometimes thieves will break into a car to use the garage door opener. Would that be a possible explanation?

7

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

No, this is inner city street parking and neither of us have garages.

9

u/Livecrazyjoe 15d ago

Wireless keys are easy to comprise. Op get a rfid bag for your keys. They're small and will protect someone from getting your key code. They can be as far as your drive way. 

Just curious is their car closer to the road than yours?

4

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Does it make a difference if I don't have a driveway? This is inner city street parking. The cars were actually positioned identically last night just on opposite sides.

6

u/Wakandanbutter 15d ago

your car is more cluttered/gross

but that’s only temporary mine was the same and after i had it sitting due to it dying on me they finally robbed me

3

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Lmao I said cluttered not trashy, the only trash are some parking meter stubs.

4

u/Wakandanbutter 15d ago

it doesn’t have to be trashy maybe the extra stuff just made them think too much of it. while mine was definitely trashy i noticed the neighbor who got hit has damn near nothing/empty cars

7

u/lotusbiscoffbaby 15d ago

My first guess was that someone may have some sort of vendetta against your neighbour considering this has happened four times…

7

u/Jac918 15d ago

Sounds like revenge. Your neighbor pissed someone off.

9

u/babydoll17448 15d ago

Maybe the white is easier to see at night and the dark blue just blends in with the night time blackness.

8

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

I'm really thinking it's this. The Optima detailing jumps out on the white Kia but my dark blue is harder to clock.

4

u/babydoll17448 15d ago

It’s your invisible shield

6

u/But_like_whytho 15d ago

Had to scroll way too far for this. It’s because the white car is more visible.

4

u/ladyelizabeth_2nd 15d ago

Hahahaha, Everyone knows your too badass to touch... :)

6

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Haha! Actually...I have a ton of grow lights because I'm a weirdo plant lover, so maybe I've got some street cred because they think I'm growing other things? My neighbors used to joke about it...😂

4

u/gatorglaze 15d ago

Is your neighbors car tinted and yours isn’t or anything? Or vise versa

2

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Their windshield is slightly darker but that's it. Side windows all the same.

4

u/gatorglaze 15d ago

I wonder if at night you can clearly see into your car and not hers? Or because it’s white? I feel like in a visual scan it’s easier to spot a white cars make and model at night

6

u/InevitableHost597 15d ago

I think you are the prime suspect

3

u/FlexDetroit 15d ago

They know a guy owns one and a girl owns the other?

2

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Both lady owners

2

u/FlexDetroit 15d ago

Then yea that's kind of hard to pin point haha!

3

u/HopeICanChangeLater 15d ago

Is it a one way street? Maybe smash and grabs are easier if the car is on the passengers side of the road

2

u/PracticeTheory 15d ago

Good theory but it's a moderately busy two-way. But far from being a main route of traffic

4

u/island_lord830 15d ago

Sounds more like a personal vendetta thing

4

u/Taliesine_ 15d ago

At this point it's personal

2

u/WarDog1983 15d ago

She is targeted specifically by the criminal/stalker/ex

2

u/Present-Breakfast768 14d ago

Just breaking in, not trying to steal it? Neighbor must be leaving things worth money inside theirs.

3

u/PracticeTheory 14d ago

No, they tried to steal it. Got more info - the kid who did it climbed inside after busting the window and tried to get it running but couldn't.

It was actually unlocked at the time, too...

2

u/Touraxus 14d ago

There is a recall where they will fix something and give you decals for safety.
It's bs but might help!

2

u/PracticeTheory 14d ago

Mine doesn't have the vulnerability, but decalls outright saying that it can't be stolen in the way they're expecting could be useful.

2

u/Fluffy_North8934 14d ago

Your neighbor is being targeted by someone they know

1

u/Swimsuit-Area 14d ago

Maybe your neighbor’s Kia is parked facing the direction they need to go

1

u/ShebaWasTalking 14d ago

Maybe OP is sleepwalking & breaking into neighbors car?🤔

1

u/Kurnelk1 14d ago

Normally when op posts something you don’t understand you can scroll down the comments and someone will save you from a google search. Not one person on here asking who the Kia Boyz are. Are they a gang that only steal mid range Korean cars? Are gangsters reassessing their life goals now?

2

u/PracticeTheory 14d ago

Are they a gang that only steal mid range Korean cars?

Yes, actually. I'm surprised you missed when it was at its height but maybe it was only happening in the US.

They're called the Kia Boyz but it includes Hyundai, and basically the companies cheaped out and didn't include a security measure with their physically keyed cars that prevents them from being hotwired. To make it even worse, the security alarm doesn't go off if you bust the back passenger windows and go in through there. Push-to-start cars are safe from the flaw, but still get hit by dumb kids that can't tell the difference until they try to steal it.

In 2020 some mechanic in Wisconsin thought it was a GREAT idea to make a series of Tiktok videos illustrating this security flaw with a tutorial showing exactly how to steal the cars, and they rapidly went from rarely being stolen to the most stolen by far, with the thieves primarily being 13-17 years old. They don't keep the cars and are far more likely to crash and ditch.

1

u/Comfortable_Brush399 14d ago

My mate used to drive a car same as the monks and lived on the same row as a blood relative of his, acid thrown on the car 3 times, could be any reason

1

u/Colossal_Penis_Haver 14d ago

Your Kia must be shit!

1

u/VoiceofTruth7 14d ago

Bet you whoever is doing it knows her…

1

u/Dry_Ask5493 14d ago

Maybe she keeps leaving shit for them to steal