New TikTok trend involving people tampering with lug nuts on cars

[dalton99a]

Last edited Sun Oct 10, 2021, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/local-towing-company-warns-about-dangers-of-new-social-media-trend/

Local towing company warns about dangers of new social media trend
by: Ciara Speller
Posted: Sep 27, 2021 / 11:47 PM EDT / Updated: Sep 29, 2021 / 09:50 AM EDT

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Another social media challenge pushing the limits, this one loosening lug nuts on the wheels of cars.

Local police say the prank is being seen in their communities. A 22News viewer informed us that their family had fallen victim to this prank, which resulted in a wheel falling off while operating the vehicle.

22News spoke with Interstate Towing in Chicopee about the dangers of a trend like this. They also confirmed recently fixing loose lug nuts for drivers.

“This is not a joke, people can get seriously hurt or die,” said Operations Manager, Stephen Gonneville. “If a tire comes off and you’re driving at a highway speed bad things could happen. Somebody could hit a tree. Someone could hit a telephone pole, become maimed or fatally injured and it wouldn’t be good.”

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https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/imperial-beach-neighbors-wary-of-tiktok-lug-nut-challenge

Imperial Beach neighbors worried about Tiktok 'Lug Nut Challenge'
By: Michael Chen
Posted at 4:02 PM, Oct 08, 2021

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (KGTV) - An Imperial Beach woman says she woke up to find the lug nuts on her vehicles tampered with.

A few months ago, a neighbor approached Tina Gil about a suspicious discovery outside their homes on Hemlock Avenue.

“He said that his lug nuts were tampered with,” said Gil.

Tina checked her own vehicles, a truck, and a car.

“On my vehicle, about three tires, and then, on my husband's vehicle, one tire,” said Gil.

She found missing lug nut covers and loosened lug nuts.

In the months since, Gil says at least seven vehicles in her neighborhood have been targeted.

[Takket]

1. I'm really sick of the media referring to organized criminal attacks as a "trend"

This is at best vandalism and at worst attempted murder. We’re not talking about planking here. Words matter.

[multigraincracker]

2. They really need to go back to

licking toilet seats.

[LisaL]

3. Tampering with a vehicle is a crime, not a prank.

What's the next "prank" going to be? Shooting people? Doesn't social media have a responsibility to remove such things from its platform?

[dalton99a]

7. "Devious Licks Challenge", "Slap A Teacher Challenge", "Lug Nut Challenge" - they don't give a shit

[GPV]

4. It's the new overpass "prank," but with less risk for the criminal.

[NCDem47]

5. Sooooo

TikTok is just allowing this content?

[GPV]

6. Good point

[marble falls]

8. This going to get a Tik Tok-er shot. Stupid, stupid shit, and Tik Tok needs to shut it down or ...

... itself be shut down.

[dalton99a]

9. There will be a well-publicized shooting in Texas

"Lug Nut Challenge" TikToker Shot Dead by Car Owner

[Polybius]

17. And I wouldn't shed a tear

The "challenge" could kill innocent people.

[SheltieLover]

10. This is the type of thing rednecks in my region do to "have fun." 🤬

Cut brake booster
Cut fuel line
Cut engine harness
Bolts removed from control arms
Lugs loosened/removed

I could make a much longer list, but you get the point.

Of course, police do not treat any of this as attempted murder! "I don't think anybody was trying to hurt you."

Really???

"They were just having some fun."

So, in the unfortunate event that some of these morons get shot, no sympathy here. I've lived it.

On edit: no worries. I now have a garage & love it!

[XanaDUer2]

15. Lord

[SheltieLover]

19. Yup

Barely scratched the surface with the above post.

Surreal!

So grateful to have my own home with garage!

[Me.]

11. Clearly Tik-Tok Is A Menace

and needs to go

[Cattledog]

12. Didn't the Biden Admin. put a hold on the TikTok sale to a US company?

[CousinIT]

13. Another recent TikTok 'challenge' was 'smack a teacher'. Assault is illegal.

The 'smack a teacher' challenge encourages students to slap a teacher and video record the act to share on that platform. The challenge was supposed to begin October 1.

[madville]

14. We need more of the milk crate challenge

Where they just hurt themselves.

[ZonkerHarris]

16. I pity the fool I catch tampering with my car.

[renate]

18. Why are people SO AWFUL?

Have we always been like this or is social media making things worse?

Humans are devolving. It’s not hard to be nice and if everyone were kind the world would be an amazing place, but instead we’re all being dragged down by horrible people who are making the world absolutely crappy.

[7wo7rees]

20. Devolving.

I've been feeling same, we are not evolving into a more enlightened and civil society much anymore.
And yes, I do believe "social" media is driving a large part of it, but not completely to blame.
I believe there are many other drivers.

Ms.7wo7rees