BRENHAM POLICE DEPT. WARNING OF VEHICLE THEFT TREND ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  

The Brenham Police Department is urging residents to be careful amid an increase in vehicle thefts around the country that appear to be the result of a social media trend.

In a notice published this (Tuesday) morning on Facebook, the department says the TikTok Kia/Hyundai social media challenge is a contributing factor for the uptick in thefts. 

According to police, the primary cause for the rise in vehicle thefts is that Kia and Hyundai vehicles produced between 2010 and 2021 lack a safety feature that can lead to the vehicles being compromised with a USB cable. 

The department recommends that owners of these vehicles use a steering wheel locking device or aftermarket anti-theft system.

The notice was shared after police were called out at 7:30 a.m. Monday for a reported motor vehicle burglary near the 600 block of West Jefferson Street.

Initial investigation revealed that sometime between noon on Sunday and 7:30 a.m. Monday, an unknown person attempted to steal the victim’s vehicle, a 2014 Hyundai Sonata.  Police stated that significant damage was done to the steering column.  The case is under further investigation. 

A stolen vehicle, reported by police to be a 2018 Hyundai Sonata, was the subject of a pursuit on Monday that ended with the arrest of a 17-year-old Brenham man.  Police said the stolen car involved in the chase was linked to a vehicle burglary that had occurred earlier that afternoon.