Major U.S. City Takes Drastic Measure to Battle TikTok-Inspired Auto Thefts

Videos showing how easy it is to steal certain models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles has led this large city to get creative.

Authorities are turning to technology to combat an uptick in auto thefts, and they are pointing a finger at a social media trend that may be playing a part in the rise in crime. 

One city announced that it will give out 500 free Apple  (AAPL) - Get Free Report AirTags to residents in order to combat car thefts. 

"This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware of, is an excellent tracking device,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”

The city has seen a 13% year over year increase in car thefts, logging nearly 4,500 through April 23.

“Viral social media videos from last year demonstrated how quickly and easily certain Kia and Hyundai models can be stolen,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said, the New York Post reported.

TikTok Making the Situation Worse

One of the big issues in New York, and around the country, is a TikTok trend that began in 2021 showing users how to hotwire cars and challenging them to do it.

Most Kia and Hyundai vehicles manufactured between 2015 and 2019 lack a standard electronic immobilizer which prevents thieves from bypassing a car’s ignition.

These immobilizers, according to the IIHS, were standard on 62% of cars made by other manufacturers in 2000. In 2015, they were a standard on 96% of other manufacturers' vehicles, but only on 26% of cars made by Kia and Hyundai.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a coalition of 18 states Thursday in calling for a federal recall of Hyundai  (HYMLF)  and Kia cars because they have been proven more vulnerable to theft.