On Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 1:57 a.m., the White Settlement Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle running which appeared to have crashed into a creek along Silver Creek Road and McCully Street near Air Force Plant #4. As officers arrived, they located a 2013 Kia Optima still running with the transmission in drive. The officer did not see anyone near the vehicle. As the officer opened the driver’s door, he placed the transmission into park and noticed steering column damage which led the officer to believe the car was stolen.
As the field investigation continued, it was determined that the car was indeed stolen from an apartment complex nearby.
Detectives believe that this case was related to numerous social media videos circulating on TikTok, YouTube, and other social media sites which provide instructions on how to steal certain models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
Video link to body-worn and dash camera footage: https://youtu.be/Xx9aGWTtQgM
The victim in this case is willing to speak to local media about her frustrations with the auto maker and these videos circulating online. Please reach out to Chief Cook for her contact information.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to email investigator@wspd.us or Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.