New TikTok trend involving people tampering with lug nuts on cars [View all]

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.