Car Thefts Soar By 19% In New York, Police Blame TikTok Challenge

Automobile theft stays a major downside in the USA.

Automobile theft is a major downside in lots of elements of the USA, and it continues to be a priority for regulation enforcement companies, communities, and car house owners. Previously, monetary motivations have been the first driving power behind automotive theft in the USA. Nonetheless, a latest assertion from the New York Police Division has highlighted a regarding development: a viral TikTok problem is now encouraging younger people to interact in joyrides by hijacking Kia and Hyundai autos. This alarming development has led to an almost 19% improve in automotive thefts this 12 months.

“We now have seen double-digit increases-it’s merely not acceptable,” Police Commissioner Edward Caban mentioned throughout a information convention.

In accordance with police knowledge, there have been a complete of roughly 10,600 automotive thefts within the 5 boroughs this 12 months, marking a rise from round 9,000 throughout the identical interval final 12 months.

“Automobile thefts have been up about 25 p.c in August in contrast with the identical month final 12 months,” an official mentioned.

“Most of us know somebody who has had their automotive stolen,” Caban continued. “We perceive that for individuals who have sadly skilled this crime, it’s an invasion of your area. Our autos are sometimes extensions of ourselves and of our houses.”

In accordance with the New York Instances, officers blamed the rise on TikTok movies exhibiting methods to steal Kias and Hyundais, the fashions which might be stolen in near a fifth of the thefts. Many movies give step-by-step directions on methods to begin the automotive with out a key.

The NYPD targets younger thieves:

The police will assign a devoted patrol automotive to every precinct to actively observe stolen autos. Notably, officers have reported that half of these arrested in reference to these automotive thefts have been teenagers below the age of 18.

Mayor Adams mentioned this transfer will give the NYPD “nice instruments for use to establish stolen autos which might be on the highway.”

Moreover, regulation enforcement officers are slated to obtain further coaching to handle the rising situation of automotive thefts.