ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albuquerque police are sounding the alarm on a new social media trend that apparently inspired a group of teenagers to steal a car over the weekend. Police say all the teens needed was a screwdriver. 

APD officers arrested a 15 and 14 year old on Saturday after they – and several other children – reportedly used that screwdriver to essentially hot wire and steal a Kia from a parking lot. Little did they know that was one of APD’s bait cars.

APD leaders say there was also a 12 and 10 year old in the car who were reportedly teaching the older children how to steal the car and drive it. There was also a 5-year-old boy in the backseat at one point.

Police say the children stole the car from a parking lot near Montgomery and Carlisle.

APD leaders say their officers were not far behind but took extra precaution once they realized children – who didn’t know how to drive – were behind the wheel.

“They follow them at quite a distance because they’re trying to be very cautious and not creating a vehicle pursuit. And they basically let them pull up to an area and walk into their apartments. And then they’re able to contact and take them into custody,” said APD Chief Harold Medina. 

The two older children are facing several charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police say the three younger children were released to their parents and the Children, Youth and Families Department was notified. But police leaders fear incidents like this are becoming more common.

APD leaders say the children learned how to steal the Kia from a popular social media challenge that essentially teaches children how to steal cars, and encourages them to try to do it themselves.

“One of the scary things about it is I don’t think that these kids, because they’re seeing the stuff on Instagram, or TikTok, as a challenge, they’re not able to fully understand the danger that’s involved in these things that are going on. They see the sensational video that someone poses a challenge and then encourages other people to do it. And then you see them go in there driving these cars. Like this one, they briefly wrecked into a curb,” said APD Commander Jeff Barnard. 

Albuquerque police say the social media trend is targeting Kia and Hyundai cars.

Medina says the city is working to purchase steering wheel locks to hopefully prevent more of these thefts.