Worcester Police Warn Residents About TikTok Car Theft Challenge

WORCESTER, MA — Police are warning residents about a recent series of motor vehicle thefts targeting Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The thefts are related to a TikTok challenge that "takes advantage of a security vulnerability in some models," police said.

There have been 24 Hyundais and 12 Kias stolen since Nov. 1, police said. Hyundai and Kia vehicles account for 25 percent of motor vehicle thefts during that period.

The most targeted vehicle is the Hyundai Elantra, which police said accounts for 34 percent of the thefts.

The thefts have occurred citywide but are concentrated in two hotspots: one is in the area of Chandler and Austin Street, and the other is in the downtown area of Front and Commercial Street, specifically the garages at 145 Front St., 201 Commercial St., and the Worcester Public Library at 3 Salem Square.

See a map of the hotspots at the police department's Facebook page.

Police had the following advice for residents:

• Contact your local dealership to see if your vehicle qualifies for the software update and/or retrofit kit
• Use a steering wheel club
• Park in a well-lit area
• Install a battery disconnect switch
• Install a kill switch
• Lock all windows and doors
• Install a GPS tracking device

According to Vox, Hyundai Motors, which manufactures Kia and Hyundai vehicles, did not install a theft prevention mechanism called an immobilizer in certain makes and models, beginning in 2011.

Cars without these immobilizers are easy targets since thieves can bypass the ignition system with a USB cable to start the engine, Vox reported, noting that thefts of these vehicles can occur within seconds.

Thieves often record videos of themselves participating in the Kia Challenge which then go viral online.

See related: Viral Social Media Challenge Leads To Stolen Cars, Arrest Of Teen: GPD

Richard Kaufman contributed to this story