Video shows car stolen at Conway dealership. Thieves used TikTok viral trend to take it
A vehicle stolen from a Conway dealership over the Christmas holiday has been linked to a TikTok video challenge, which shows viewers how to steal the vehicle without a key.
Brian Bernard, owner of Bernard Motorcar Co. in Conway, said a 2017 Kia Sportage vehicle was discovered stolen when employees returned from the holiday.
A video taken from the business’ security camera at 1:30 a.m. Dec. 22 shows two people walking up to the vehicle, gaining access and then eventually driving away about 5 minutes later. Bernard said the two people broke a rear window in the vehicle to get inside.
The vehicle is bright, rust, gold, Bernard said. “You can’t miss it,” he said. The vehicle is worth between $12,000 to $13,000.
The TikTok trend that went viral in 2022 targets Kia and Hyundai owners with a specific key ignition. The videos show how to hot-wire the vehicle models from 2011- through 2022 with only a screwdriver and a USB cable.
Those models don’t have anti-theft technology, which has apparently been corrected with software updates by the vehicle makers. It is believed to effect more than 8 million owners.
Bernard said he didn’t know that the trend was still going on. “I learned all about it basically this weekend,” he said.
Employees discovered the vehicle missing after doing an inventory, Bernard said. Bernard then watched the security video and saw that it had been stolen.
In the video, two people can be seen being dropped off at the apartment complex across the street and then walking across the highway to the business. The two people sit in the vehicle for several minutes before eventually getting the vehicle started and pulling out of the parking lot onto Highway 378.
According to the video footage, it took the people about 15 minutes from the time they got into the vehicle and left.
Police responded to the business on Dec. 26. Bernard said police told him that the theft “has all the hallmarks of the TikTok challenge.” The vehicle has not been located as of Dec. 29.
Bernard is now wanting to alert other Kia owners about the situation.
“I think for me, it stinks. I’m the owner, but if it’s still going on, I would hate for people to out and find their car not there,” especially if it’s a single mom who can’t take her kids to day care because her car is gone, Bernard said.
“That’s what burns me,” he said.
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 1:28 PM.
