Six youths arrested after allegedly livestreaming car thefts on TikTok

Friday 19 December 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 19 Dec 2025, 2:13pm

In this story TikTok

Police arrested six youths, some as young as 12, in the Manawatū region after they allegedly livestreamed car thefts and a crash on TikTok. Officers used the real-time social media broadcast to track the suspects and vehicles involved.

How they headlined it

1:59pm

1. StuffFri 19 Dec 2025, 1:59pm

   TikTok livestream leads police to alleged youth car thieves (opens in new tab)

2. 1NewsFri 19 Dec 2025, 2:11pm

   Six youths arrested after car thefts, crash livestreamed in Manawatū (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldFri 19 Dec 2025, 2:13pm

   TikTok livestream helps police track and arrest Palmerston North alleged youth car thieves (opens in new tab)