Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles beware: a new trend on Tik-Tok has been unleashed, challenging viewers to steal these brand of cars with a simple USB cable.
According to a Fox 2 Detroit article published on August 11th, roughly 150 Hyundais and Kias have been stolen in the city alone, with 28 coming in those first 11 days of the month.
Basically, these kids are able to hotwire the vehicle by removing the steering column and key slot, plugging in a USB chord to turn on the ignition, unlock the steering wheel, and then start the vehicle in less than a minute.
Apparently, these vehicles do not have anti-theft devices called immobilizers preprogrammed into the car, and keys and fabs.
But it’s not just Detroit: cities and countries around the country are reporting this rapidly growing trend.
In our jurisdiction alone, [thefts of certain models are] up over 800% in the last month. We see no end in sight.
The viral nature of how this has taken off on social media — it’s accelerated this like we’ve never seen. [They are] doing it in 20 to 30 seconds. It literally is as old-fashioned as you can imagine.
We had an 11-year-old who was one of our most prolific stealers … the notion that they can drive is a fantasy.
Tom Dart, Cook County Sheriff of Chicago, told CNBC last week
‘In St. Petersburg, Florida, police reported more than a third of all car thefts there since mid-July are linked to the TikTok challenge. Los Angeles officials say the viral trend has led to an 85% increase in car theft of Hyundais and Kias compared with last year,’ CNBC added.
This is what they do for after-school entertainment. They don’t really have much of a sympathy for the people that they’re doing this to.
Tom Gerszewski, an independent journalist and filmmaker from Wisconsin, told CNBC
A spokesperson for KIA said the company is concerned about this ongoing trend:
It is unfortunate that criminals are using social media to target vehicles without engine immobilizers in a coordinated effort.
While no car can be made theft-proof, criminals are seeking vehicles solely equipped with a steel key and ‘turn-to-start’ ignition system. The majority of Kia vehicles in the United States are equipped with a key fob and “push-button-to-start” system, making them more difficult to steal. All 2022 Kia models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the model year or as a running change.
The spokesperson said
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
[8] He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. [9] The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.Proverbs 24:8-9
All people can think to do anymore is how to keep pushing the vortex of the fractional amount of standards we have left, and then when caught, get a slap on the wrist.
Another reason why all these modern cars are so foolish by design – that a bunch of loathsome teens figured out how to hotwire a car with a USB cable…
But, I’m sure the manufacturers will use this to their advantage, to justify even more biometric IDs and surveillance monitoring, to prevent all this crime:
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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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This is what happens when you don’t bust your kid’s butts when or if they need it: you get these losers!
They have too much self esteem because of some dr. crap-for-brains and their retarded little participation trophies they’ve gotten over the years because they tried it came in 45th place, you create these sociopathic monsters!
TikTok that explains it!
These morons and their trends, everything from licking ice cream at the store to eating Tide Pods to stealing cars with a USB cable!
China has weaponized this app to make America foolish and brainless enough to where when war comes, be it China or another nation or both, they won’t have enough sense to take up arms and fight back!
Sounds like their orchestrating again
Orchestrating what? I’m curious and clueless.