Wisconsin Kia owners got the chance to make their cars harder to steal. Here's how.

Kia owners will have the opportunity to have anti-theft software installed for free at Mayfair Mall Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 22, Kia America announced.

Certain Kia vehicles have been the subject of a massive string of thefts that started in Milwaukee in 2021 and have spread across the country. It is known on TikTok as the Kia Challenge. The videos posted showed the "Kia Boys" demonstrating how to steal the vehicles using a USB charging cord or other metal object to start the engine.

The reason this worked was because the cars lacked immobilizers and had design flaws that allowed the cars to be stolen easily.

Kia introduced anti-theft software in February and has provided it to owners who fit the criteria for the free installation. Now, for the first time, the company is hosting an in-person event as part of a national effort to help roll out the free upgrades in response to the high rate of thefts.

The software upgrade includes a longer-sounding alarm and a tweak in the ignition to make the vehicles harder to steal.

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The free clinic will run from Oct. 20 to 22 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointments are necessary. The software instillation should take about 30 minutes.

You can find a complete list of eligible vehicles here, which are models made before 2021. For non-eligible vehicles, Kia will provide wheel locks.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.