Mayor Adams this week warned of the dangers of a TikTok challenge that is behind a spate of car thefts hitting New York and other cities.
Young people across the country are learning how to start the engine of certain Kia and Hyundai models, and eventually steal them, by taking advantage of a design vulnerability.
Between January and October of last year, New York City had an average of 24 Kia and Hyundai vehicles stolen per month, according to police.
In November there were already 49 and in December 203.
Officials say that behind that increase in thefts is a viral challenge on TikTok.
For Mayor Adams, it’s one reason both social media company executives and parents should be vigilant.
Police officers informed us that some of the youths arrested did not even know they were committing a crime; they thought they were just doing something fun.
Of the 109 grand theft arrests involving Kias or Hyundais so far this year, eight of them involve children between the ages of 10 and 14.
