Viral TikTok challenge spurs rise in thefts of Kia, Hyundai cars in South Florida

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A up to date social media challenge involving Kia and Hyundai fashions highlighted the vulnerability of positive automobiles to robbery. The national challenge pressured legislation enforcement companies and left households stranded together with in South Florida.

The challenge, fueled through platforms like TikTok, inspired people armed with not anything greater than a USB wire or screwdriver to damage into positive Kia and Hyundai fashions. According to John Pirrera, a supervisor at an auto store, having access to those automobiles was once simple, taking mere mins.

“You can break into this car faster than you can break into a 1970′s Chevy.” Pirrera mentioned.

Police companies, together with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, discovered themselves inundated with studies of thefts or tried thefts related to the challenge.

“It’s frustrating because it is a Tik-Tok challenge.” Detective Sgt. Patrick O’Brian over the car thefts department mentioned.

The root of the issue is in a manufacturing unit flaw in the ignition gadget of Kia and Hyundai fashions manufactured between 2010 and 2022, affecting as many as 9 million automobiles. Models produced between 2015 and 2019, missing fundamental auto robbery prevention generation, was high goals for thieves in search of a snappy getaway.

Surveillance pictures equipped through FLPD captured brazen thefts and makes an attempt. The crooks generally wreck a again window and move slowly in, so locking automobile doorways does little to lend a hand.

The state of affairs escalated to the purpose the place Kia and Hyundai confronted a class-action lawsuit, ensuing in a $200 million agreement. Some auto insurance coverage firms even refused protection for positive fashions.

In reaction, Kia and Hyundai rolled out unfastened device updates and allotted wheel locks and steerage wheel golf equipment to lend a hand with car safety. Kia is taking part with FLPD to distribute wheel golf equipment at long run group occasions.

While those aftermarket choices have helped scale back thefts in Fort Lauderdale, legislation enforcement continues to paintings an important quantity of tried thefts.