WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Tire thefts are on the rise in Connecticut, in line with police.
A rise in tire thefts have been reported in Wethersfield, Hartford, Middletown and the encircling cities and cities, authorities mentioned.
Wethersfield police mentioned they’ve seen tire theft exercise as lately as Monday evening.
Police informed Information 8 the thieves hit shortly taking the wheels, leaving vehicles stranded on their rotors.
“You stroll out and also you see a automotive on milk crates with its wheels gone, it’s occurred a few instances,” mentioned Kemal Zahirovic of Wethersfield.
In response to police, the tire thefts are happening at condominium parking heaps and automotive dealerships.
The thieves drive in, jack up the automotive, steal the wheels and are gone in just some minutes.
“Sadly it’s quite common, we’re seeing two to 3 vehicles every week getting towed in and that’s not even all of them. There are some individuals who don’t have full protection they usually’re coping with these points on their very own and it’s an enormous expense,” mentioned Mike Brough of Turnpike Motors Autobody.
Turnpike Motors Autobody mentioned it’s best to have complete automotive insurance coverage that covers the price of vandalism. The price of tire rims and injury to the automotive can price $5000 or extra to repair.
“They may go away it on crates or within the case of my advanced it was rocks, so there was injury beneath the automobile generally to the rotors and the brakes, and the bumpers,” Brough mentioned.
Staff at Turnpike Motors Autobody suggest placing locking lug nuts in your tires. The particular lug nuts have a small key that goes over them, which makes them tougher to take away.
Police additionally suggest parking in well-lit areas close to safety cameras when you’re ready. The grey and silver rims on Toyotas or Hondas are essentially the most sought-after, in line with police.
“We’re automotive individuals, so we care about our vehicles, so we preserve them nicely and it all the time makes us frightened somethings going to occur to ours,” Zahirovic mentioned.
