A masked individual used an iPhone charger to hotwire a Kia Stinger in under a minute during a New Year’s Eve stunt captured in a viral video that has sparked widespread debate over vehicle security flaws. The clip, originally posted on Instagram and reposted on X, depicts the person smashing a car window, climbing inside, and starting the engine with everyday tech items, all while filming the process. Shared just days ago, it has amassed over 188,000 views, highlighting ongoing concerns about easy theft methods in specific car models.
The video unfolds at night in what appears to be a suburban Texas driveway, with the perpetrator approaching the parked Kia Stinger under streetlights. He breaks the rear passenger window off-camera, then awkwardly maneuvers over the back seat, nearly sitting on glass shards scattered inside. Reaching the front, he connects a USB cable from an iPhone charger to bridge the ignition contacts, exploiting the model’s lack of an immobilizer chip, and drives off triumphantly as the engine roars to life. On-screen text overlays add drama, emphasizing speed and holiday timing, while the roughly two-minute footage ends with the car speeding into the darkness.
This skit, created by Dallas-based content producer WrappedByScoob, parodies real-world theft trends that have plagued Kia and Hyundai owners since 2021. Social media tutorials popularized a low-tech hack, where thieves use a screwdriver to access the ignition and a USB cable to start the vehicle, resulting in massive spikes in thefts in various U.S. cities. Kia models topped the most-stolen list in 2023, according to insurance data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s 2023 report. Manufacturers responded with software updates and a significant class-action settlement to address the vulnerabilities and compensate affected owners.
Public reaction on X has been mixed, with users pointing out staging flaws like the absence of alarms despite nearby homes and the clumsy entry that risked injury from broken glass. Some commenters debated racial biases in responses to such videos, while others suggested innovative security measures, such as cameras equipped with non-lethal deterrents. The clip’s repost by a crime-focused account amplified its reach, drawing over 1,700 likes and dozens of replies questioning its authenticity.
(0:00) Today, I’m going to show you how to steal two stingers
(0:05) Within like 30 seconds with one an iPhone charger screwdriver
(0:13) Special device called air pods and then a jailbroken phone
(0:20) They got two cameras pointed on that
(0:23) All right, we’re gonna have to game plan for that one hold up, all right, it’s New Year’s we’re gonna have to get this quickly
(0:35) I
(1:47) We’re going back
Videos like this one highlight how social media can educate users about risks, but also inadvertently inspire copycats, even when labeled as skits with hashtags indicating fiction. As a journalist covering urban trends, I see this as a reminder for owners of older Kia and Hyundai models to install aftermarket immobilizers or steering wheel locks. These tools could prevent real losses amid still elevated theft rates. Ultimately, while the stunt entertains, it presses automakers to prioritize built-in security in future designs, ensuring everyday drivers aren’t left vulnerable to simple exploits.
For more on vehicle theft prevention, check the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s 2023 report, details on the manufacturers’ 2023 settlement, or state alerts like New York’s attorney general warning.
