Tik Tok video doubles the number of car thefts in America
A phenomenon on the "Tik Tok" application has caused a rise in car theft in the United States, due to educational videos that have turned into "precious" lessons for criminals.
And videos that spread widely on the application, which is very popular among young people and teenagers, showed how to break into a locked car and start it, without the need for the ignition key.
The video showed how to open and start a car, using a screwdriver and a portable USB charger, and indicated that Kia and Hyundai cars are the most vulnerable to break-in.
The educational video was aimed at deterring and warning car owners of the dangers of theft, but it turned into a free lesson for translators, according to "Sky News Arabia" quoted by the "Independent" website.
The so-called "challenge" went viral earlier this year when the first video, which has since been removed from TikTok, showed a man who appeared to be operating a Kia with a USB connection.
Alyssa Smart, the victim of the video, said her Kia was broken into and valuables stolen when someone tried to power her car with a USB charger.
Speaking to Fox News, Smart said: "I was scared, worried and confused about how someone could see a baby seat and diaper bag and still commit such a brutal act."
And Cook County in the US state of Illinois announced that there has been a 767% increase in thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars since 2021, according to an ABC report.
"This is a very worrying trend, and the public needs to know this so they can be vigilant in protecting themselves," Cook County Police Chief Thomas Jay Dart said.
In a statement, TikTok said it "does not condone this behavior, which categorically violates our policies and will be removed if it is found on our platform."
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