Kia Stolen From Lakewood Falls Found Abandoned In Bushes: Sheriff

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Kia Sportage that had been stolen from in front of a house in Lakewood Falls Tuesday was found abandoned in some bushes north of Knollwood Drive Friday.

Deputies from the Will County Sheriff's Office were called to South Budler Road at about 5:50 p.m. after receiving a report of an abandoned car. Deputies spoke to three boys driving in the area, who said they spotted the Kia in the bushes around 4:30 p.m. When the car was still there an hour later, they decided to call police, according to spokesperson Kathy Hoffmeyer.

The Kia, which had been stolen from the 22000 block of Miller Drive, was found with the ignition altered. A "foreign object" had been used to start the car, officials said.

The owner was called to the scene and was able to drive the car back to their residence after it was processed by crime scene investigators.

The car was one of two Kias stolen from the Plainfield Township subdivision in the early morning hours on Tuesday. A theft attempt was made on a third Kia, but the thief was unsuccessful and the car was found with its dashboard ripped off from underneath the steering wheel, Patch reported.

RELATED: 2 Kias Stolen, 1 Attempted Theft In Lakewood Falls: Sheriff

Hoffmeyer said the two stolen cars and one attempted theft are believed to be related.

Kias are the latest target of a social media challenge, dubbed "Kia Boyz" or "Kia Challenge," aimed at stealing cars. Word is spreading on online platforms, including TikTok, that it's possible to steal certain cars — specifically some Kia and Hyundai models — using a USB charging cord, according to Auto Blog.

Police in Park Forest have also warned owners of Kias and Hyundais to be wary.