PLANO, Texas — Police departments and insurance agents across the country are reporting a dramatic increase in car thefts. And, in Plano at least, a TikTok challenge continues to be a contributing...challenge.
The Plano Police Department is already reporting a year-to-date 15% increase in motor vehicle theft over this time last year. The department says the work of a 14-year-old car theft suspect will only increase those burgeoning stats.
“A lot of these cars have push starts. Technology is different," said Plano Police Department spokesman Jennifer Chapman, when asked to talk about the "KIA Challenge" on TikTok that has been a problem for police departments nationwide for months now.
"These young brains are living for the thrill. They are living for the engagement online. They are living for the views," said Rania Mankarious who is CEO of Crimestoppers of Houston.
Mankarious specializes in the area where crime and online intersect. She even wrote a book that helps parents and children have real conversations about how to safely navigate the online world.
Chapman said a 14-year-old arrested earlier this month, along with an alleged accomplice, is linked to as many as 38 vehicle thefts and/or attempted thefts, primarily of KIA and Hyundai vehicles.
Chapman said the teen was finally apprehended after a Plano homeowner caught the teen in the act and held him until police could arrive. Police then connected the other cases.
“Since we’ve made arrests, there have been no more vehicles in that area that they were targeting that have been stolen," Chapman said of an area between Park and Spring Creek and Preston and Ohio Drive.
"Once they finally figured out who was doing it, they were able to back track a lot of the cases that had and are able to get those closed," she said.
Police departments across the country are reporting much the same.
The Dallas Police Department said vehicle theft in the city is up 31.9% year-to-date.
In Richardson, it's an even bigger number. The Richardson Police Department reported an 85% increase in motor vehicle theft over this time last year. So far, that's an additional 121 cars.
"The consequences are real. They are going to face the reality that this is criminal activity and law enforcement will find them," said Mankarious.
Police said the US-75 corridor is a common target, where thieves can get in and out quickly. They said anti-theft devices, like visible steering wheel locks, can encourage a thief to look somewhere else: while police across the country look for a way to stop an annoying and expensive trend.
“Our investigators are thoroughly investigating these," Chapman said. "And we hope to come to some conclusions and make Plano a harder target.”
Richardson police also recommend:
- Park in well-lit areas, close to entrances/exits where there is more pedestrian traffic where someone may notice suspicious activity.
- Use vehicle alarm systems that can draw attention to someone breaking into a car.
- Consider brake or steering wheel locks (visible deterrents), ignition kill switches, the goal is to slow the thief down and create layers of security to increase the chances of them being detected and reduce risk of theft.
- Tracking devices/services such as LoJack and OnStar to aid with recovery and apprehension.