Four teenagers landed in custody on Friday morning after what police describe as a rolling series of crashes involving stolen Kias across East Portland. The chaotic ride cut through several neighborhoods before officers locked down the area, tracked the group and arrested four youths. Police said no one was hurt.
What police say
According to Portland police, the trouble started at about 8 a.m. when a Kia crashed in the 3700 block of Southeast 92nd Avenue. Witnesses told officers the occupants bailed out, jumped into a second Kia and sped off.
Not long after, calls began coming in about juveniles driving "very recklessly" and hanging out of car windows near Northeast Killingsworth Street and Cully Boulevard. Police say that second Kia later crashed as well, and its occupants took off on foot.
Officers then located a third Kia that may have been racing in the area. Police formed a perimeter, searched the neighborhood and ultimately detained four youths, who were booked into the Juvenile Detention Center, according to KATU.
Officers credit quick response
Sgt. Kevin Allen praised how quickly the case came together, calling it "fantastic policework" and noting that the arrests happened because East Precinct had temporarily set aside extra officers for a focused "mini mission."
"It’s fair to say this kind of response would not have been possible without that," Allen said, according to KATU.
Why Kias are often targeted
The string of stolen Kias mirrors a national trend. Certain older Kia and Hyundai models were built without engine immobilizers, which made them vulnerable to quick theft techniques that spread widely on social media. In response, the companies began offering free anti-theft software upgrades in 2023. Coverage of the surge in thefts and related lawsuits has highlighted the role of viral "Kia Boys" videos in fueling the problem and the automakers’ subsequent fixes, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and TechCrunch.
How to protect your vehicle
Portland police urge drivers to stick with simple prevention steps: lock your doors, remove valuables from sight, park in well-lit areas and follow up with your dealer about any available anti-theft software or hardware updates. Those recommendations are laid out in a bureau car-theft infographic.
The bureau also runs a stolen-vehicle dashboard that tracks theft and recovery patterns across the city, and residents with tips about Friday’s incidents can use Portland’s open-data tools to get more context. For prevention resources and statistics, see the Portland Police Bureau guide and the city’s stolen-vehicle dashboard via the City of Portland.
