There's been an increase in very specific car thefts in Arlington and a TikTok trend could be to blame.
Arlington police say a new TikTok trend called the "Kia challenge" is causing a spike in reports of car thefts.
Arlington Police Officer Jesse Minton says the recent TikTok videos show teens how to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles by utilizing a USB cable to jump-start the car. And those videos usually end with the teens taking the cars on joyrides and then crashing or abandoning them.
In July alone, Arlington police have followed up on at least a dozen reports of stolen older-model Kia cars.
Police say several teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection to the thefts. In Texas, car theft is a felony and officer Minton warns that teens trying out the TikTok trend could spend the next few years in prison.
To keep from falling victim to this trend, officials recommend getting an alarm system on your vehicle, or consider having a steering wheel lock or kill switch installed.
TikTok is encouraging users to report any content that they see relating to or displaying the "Kia challenge."
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