Theo Glibo goes viral on TikTok ‘defecting’ SA Police car at Largs Bay

Millions of people have seen the controversial clip on social media. Now SA Police have confirmed they are taking a closer look.

SA Police have confirmed a bald tyre on a police car that became the focus of a viral TikTok clip filmed by an upset motorcyclist has been referred for investigation..

An unnamed police officer was accused of hypocrisy in the viral video where he was filmed defecting a motorcycle while its rider insisted the police car had a bald tyre.

In a statement, an SA Police spokesman said they “ have taken steps to address the matter and referred the matter for investigation” after the bald tyre was identified in the video.

Theo Glibo, 24, was stopped by the officer at a service station in Largs Bay and started recording the exchange when he realised his Honda Grom motorcycle was being defected.

In the video – which has been viewed on Tik Tok (@riphondagrom) over 1.5 million times – Mr Glibo quickly points out that the front right tyre on the officer’s patrol vehicle appeared bald.

“How’s (sic) I’m copping a defect and this cop has a bald tyre and he’s not even gonna defect his own car,” Mr Glibo said in the video.

“I’m not going to put a sticker on it for something that’s going to be dealt with tomorrow,” the officer responds said.

Mr Glibo then accused the officer of hypocrisy.

“Why not? That’s what you’re doing with mine, you’re a hypocrite,” Mr Glibo said.

In a second video, Mr Glibo questioned the roadworthiness of the officer’s vehicle again.

”If this was anybody else’s tyre, you’d defect it. Where’s the wear bar on that?” he said.

The officer said Mr Glibo was correct.

The rider filmed the SA Police officer as he claimed his front tyre was bald. Picture: TikTok/Theo Glibo

“You’re absolutely right, so I will defect that when I get back to my office,” the officer said.

But that wasn’t enough for Mr Glibo.

“No, can you defect it now?” he said.

In a third video, the officer points out the blue light on the front of Mr Glibo’s motorcycle as the reason for the defection notice.

Mr Glibo tried to explain that it came with the bike.

“The blue light that comes factory on a Honda Grom?” he said.

“That’s how I bought it.”

Mr Glibo told The Advertiser that he offered to fix the motorcycle by buying electrical tape to cover the blue light.

“I said I’d do that at the servo but he wasn’t budging,” he said.

He said the defect ended up costing him $62.

“They didn’t even look over the bike, they pretty much took the defect off straight away,” he said.

“The dude who took it off had seen the Tik Tok.”

A SAPOL spokesman said the Australian Government had a set of standards for vehicle designs.

“People purchasing vehicles with coloured lights or with other aftermarket adaptations should seek advice on the safety standards of their vehicles,” the spokeperson said.

SAPOL released a statement on Tuesday night to confirm they were aware of the viral Tik Tok video.

“South Australia Police are aware of the social media post relating to an interaction between a SAPOL employee and a member of the public where the police vehicle was identified to have a bald tyre,” it read.