Illegal social media challenge leads to the arrest of five minors

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — At least five teenagers entered the Park Central Apartments in the early hours Sunday morning to thieve automobiles with the intent to add the robbery video and hop on a viral pattern,  

Police consider that is in connection to the TikTok ‘Kia Boyz’ challenge that went viral in 2021. And when you’ve got an older mannequin Kia or Hyundai, it’s essential to fall sufferer. 

In an try to rip off a door digital camera to steer clear of being stuck, a teenager induced an alarm that brought on a resident to name police. 

The juveniles had been stuck with two stolen Hyundai’s and officials say they had been in search of extra cars. 

“We found the steering column of one Kia ripped out and the windows on several vehicles smashed,” mentioned a resident at the Park Central Apartments. 

They requested 12News to offer protection to their identification in concern of retaliation. 

Port Arthur detectives say a flat head screwdriver and a USB cable are the best equipment that thieves as younger as 10-years outdated want to get started older fashions of Kia and Hyundai cars and take them joyriding curious about the goal of going viral. 

“So essentially, these children, were stealing vehicles,” police mentioned. 

These residences in Port Arthur had been hit this previous weekend, with older-model Hyundai’s and Kia’s getting their home windows smashed and steerage columns destroyed. 

“They did break in to several vehicles over here, and that’s why they were trying to get rid of my camera,” the resident mentioned. 

Police quickly replied to the crime that concerned six juveniles first of all arriving on-scene in two not too long ago stolen Hyundai’s. 

“When the police showed up, there was two vehicles that were driving a little erratically, and, so, they caught them,” they mentioned. 

Victims of this bad pattern have one query: Where are their oldsters? 

“I have no right to tell you how to parent your children, but be aware of what they’re doing and who they’re hanging out with, and maybe find them some better alternatives,” the resident mentioned. 

“If you are participating in this trend, you will get caught. It’s not just funny, it’s not just for a social hype, you’re not going to be cool, you could end up hurting yourself or hurting someone else.”

12News can ascertain that there have been no less than five juveniles arrested in reference to this incident. 

Police mentioned they would love to remind all house owners of Kia’s and Hyundai’s dated from 2011-2021 that they are able to cross to their native dealership and feature engine immobilizers put in unfastened of rate. 

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