A 12-year-old Auburn girl was charged with taking a motor vehicle in the second degree after she and three other juvenile girls were found inside a stolen Kia Optima, which was reportedly stolen using a USB device commonly used by “Kia Boys,” which refers to underage car thieves who target Kias.
According to the Tacoma Police Department and the Pierce County Superior Court, on Jan. 1, three minor girls were apprehended by officers in Tacoma when they were found to be riding inside a Kia reported stolen from Kent on Dec. 31, 2024.
The 12-year-old Auburn girl was taken to her home in Auburn when the two other girls were arrested, according to Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Communications Manager Adam Faber. Faber said the 15-year-old driver, from Puyallup, and a 14-year-old passenger, from Parkland, were taken to the Pierce County juvenile detention center, but they have since been released to alternative detention services with curfew monitoring ordered.
Faber said the 12-year-old Auburn girl was taken home instead of to the juvenile detention center because 12-year-olds are not typically taken there. Probable cause documents state that she was charged with taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree. Faber said the girl has not appeared yet because her case will be a summoned case.
One of the other passenger girls was also charged with taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree, but the driver was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Charging document details
According to Pierce County Superior Court charging documents, at about 8 p.m. Jan. 1, a Tacoma police officer observed a silver Kia Optima that was confirmed stolen from Kent on Dec. 31, 2024. The officer observed the Kia driving on South 72nd Street in Tacoma when it began speeding in the right lane and passing vehicles on the right with heavily fogged rear and side rear windows.
The documents state that when the officer used his police vehicle to get close to the vehicle, it quickly changed to the left lane without signaling, made an abrupt left-hand turn in front of another vehicle, and then began traveling northbound on South D Street. The vehicle then drove south on East Portland Ave to 72nd Street and entered a Wendy’s parking lot.
The officer then activated his emergency lights, and upon doing this, all the juveniles exited the car while it was still in drive and fled on foot. The officer observed the driver’s clothing and would later identify her.
Documents state that two other female passengers were detained and reportedly were found to be in possession of a USB cable typically used to start stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, the officer found extensive damage to the steering column, which had been changed from its original factory condition. The officer found that the plastic shroud surrounding the steering wheel was broken and removed from its original location to allow easier access to the ignition.
Documents state that the ignition was damaged and broken from its original factory condition and had been pulled away from the steering column and hanging by two wires. The exterior key housing was removed, and a small stub was exposed where the key should normally go.
The documents state that, based on the facts, the state seeks probable cause for taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree for the two passengers and probable cause for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle for the 15-year-old because she was seen exiting the driver’s seat.
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