NYPD Distributes Trackers in College Point For Kia, Hyundai Owners

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — The NYPD will give away Bluetooth trackers in College Point on Saturday for Kia and Hyundai vehicle models after a TikTok trend sparked a rise in car thefts.

Eligible car owners can get a free Apple Air Tag or Tile on Saturday, May 20, at 2855 Ulmer St. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A trend on the social media platform TikTok has led to hundreds of car thefts nationwide, including at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The "Kia Challenge" targets Hyundai and Kia models manufactured between 2015 to 2019, which lack electronic immobilizers that prevent thieves from breaking in and bypassing the ignition.

Auto larceny in Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Hollis Hills, and Fresh Meadows was up 160 percent in the last 28 through May 14 compared with the same period in 2022.

The car companies have since upgraded their security software to prevent the thefts and agreed to a $200 million settlement prompted by a class-action lawsuit related to the rise in car thefts.

To be eligible for an Apple Air Tag or Tile at Saturday's event, vehicle owners must have an Apple iPhone, a vehicle registered in New York State, a turn-key start, and Kia vehicle from 2011 to 2021 or a Hyundai model from 2015 to 2021.