The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is currently delving into a series of Kia vehicle thefts occurring in the Hazelwood subdivision, attributing these incidents to a popular social media trend.

Recently, the sheriff’s office has addressed three separate reports of car thefts over the last five days within the Hazelwood subdivision located in Hazel Green.

In all reported cases, the vehicles were from the model years 2011 to 2015. The cars were taken overnight, driven briefly, and then left abandoned within a two-mile radius of the original subdivision. Fortunately, all three vehicles have been successfully recovered.

On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office shared a video featuring a suspect linked to the thefts:

The authorities noted that the evidence points towards a connection with a viral TikTok trend, commonly referred to as the “Kia Challenge” or “Kia Boyz.” This trend involves targeting specific Kia models that can be easily started without a key.

According to the sheriff’s office, the vehicles were locked, and the owners still had their keys. The suspects allegedly broke out windows and damaged the steering columns and ignition systems to gain access and start the vehicles.

The sheriff’s office urges people in the Hazelwood subdivision and surrounding areas to remain vigilant, secure their cars and report any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 256-532-4099.