Huge market for Japanese model wheels, and not just on the luxury ones. Accord and Civic wheels get swiped all the time because they are so common and there's a demand. Unfortunately, this guys wheels and tires have probably already been flipped via a wheel shop, traded among thieves, or put up on craigslist out of state. Do yourselves a favor and get some wheel locks. They don't make it impossible - just noisy and frustrating enough that hopefully thieves will move on to an easier victim.

Wheel locks standard

By ralph on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 9:20am.

I thought wheel locks were standard anymore. This is why you don't see this frequently.

Not entirely

By SwirlyGrrl on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 1:42pm.

My car has special lugs and you have to have the special wrench to work them. However, that doesn't stop thieves from having that special wrench.

Lug locks only cost about $20 for a basic set. A number of people in my area have had wheels stolen from their older Hondas and have been buying them.

special wrench not required

By anon on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 5:15pm.

Without getting into details, there are a few ways to take the locking lug nuts off with minimal effort. The hope is that thieves will spot an even lower effort score. Less time = less risk. I suppose this could be mitigated by running more than one locking lug on each wheel, but then you're sacrificing your own convenience a bit.

Yep, an experienced crew (and

By anon on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 11:58am.

Yep, an experienced crew (and these are organized crews, not random opportunists) can, with a little bit of noise, have all four "locked" wheels off in less than thirty seconds. And who cares about the noise when you're gone so quickly?

Wheel locks are a joke. I guess people like to pretend otherwise so they can believe the victim was careless and their own car is safe.

A very good argument against

By anon on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 10:19pm.

A very good argument against wheel locks is that perhaps the thieves will be tempted to break into the car as well to look for the wrench

Exactly what happened to me.

By anon on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 11:24pm.

Exactly what happened to me. I have a better hiding place now, and an aftermarket alarm that won't wait until a door opens before it goes off, but these are things normal people shouldn't have to consider.

Wheel locks are worse than nothing. People need to think for two seconds before victim-blaming.

BPD?

By Goosen on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 10:46am.

Has BPD made any arrests on this problem? Has been happening regularly for the past 3 years. Hello? Anyone awake over there?

You are joking right?

By anon on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 3:22pm.

They can't even tag cars illegally parked in plain view. Not once have I ever seen a cruiser drive down my street.

Was this parked outside the car owners residence?

By anon on Sat, 05/07/2016 - 9:51pm.

Were they home? How long and noisy is it to seal those 4 tires?

Ever changed a tire?

By Waquiot on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 12:33am.

It's a pretty quiet activity. Now doing this without anyone coming by and noticing is pretty amazing. That said, one of my neighbors used to park their minivan in front of my house. One night, thieves broke into it and stole the sound system. There was an alarm for the van, too, but they broke the back window and went in that way. Again, no one came by and saw this aparentally.

usually done very quickly

By anon on Sun, 05/08/2016 - 10:21pm.

usually done very quickly with minimal noise at the darkest hour

Wheels taken in South Boston

Comments

Surprised they weren't

An actual ticket given for being parked in the bus stop?

Now, that's a space saver.

Clearly the correct response

Times are tough, cinder

The owner doesn't have to

That looks bad for the car

No Starbucks

No Dunkin

Infiniti?