As reports emerge from the Salt Lake City Police Department, a worrying trend has been highlighted affecting owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Citing a sequence of 13 thefts or attempted thefts from Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, law enforcement officials are raising the alarm over what appears to be a targeted spree, with the majority occurring within the bounds of the Rose Park neighborhood. Fox13 reports the suspicion that a TikTok social media trend may be partly to blame for these criminal acts.

Compounding the problem, thieves have been noted smashing windows and wreaking havoc on the steering columns and ignitions of the vehicles, as obtained by ABC4. The severity of the situation is underscored by their report, which details incidents where cars were stolen with the key fob left inside, stark reminders for drivers to secure their vehicles.

The situation is further exacerbated by an insidious strategy employed by thieves, elaborated on by SLCPD. With the skills and technology to clone key fobs, criminals have an edge that presents a significant threat to vehicle security. According to KSL Newsradio, police urged drivers to take the precaution of never leaving keys or key fobs in their vehicle, highlighting the simplicity with which these thefts can occur.