Despite all the technological advancements made in the auto industry, old-fashioned wheel theft remains a problem nationwide: The value of tires stolen each year is at least $1 million, according to one estimate.
There are several reasons this type of theft is so prevalent, says Richard Reina, training director at CARiD; fortunately, there are also some anti-theft precautions you can take to help protect your parked car.
Determined thieves with a jack and a battery-operated tool—an impact wrench with a lot of torque—can pull off a set of wheels in 10 minutes.
Wheels don’t have serial numbers, and nobody’s going to ask for proof of ownership.
Thieves might sell stolen wheels online, to auto body shops, or even from their front yard.
Aftermarket tires are some of the most popular automotive accessories—and the more expensive the vehicle, the more expensive the wheels. Depending on the model, a set of stolen wheels might go for $1,000–$5,000 or more—about half the cost of retail.
This solution involves replacing one of the lug nuts on each wheel with a lock, which requires a special tool to remove. Often a dealer add-on when you buy your vehicle, they cost around $100 for four (one for each wheel). They’re also available at auto stores or online for a little less; you can put them on yourself or bring them to a mechanic to install for you. For extra protection, you can buy lock kits for all of the lug nuts on your wheels. Just don’t lose the key, which you’ll need to remove the wheel should you have to change a flat tire.
Unlike standard car alarms, which alert you when your car has been broken into, alarms with sensors can detect a tilt or angle change if thieves try to jack up your vehicle. Some high-end, newer vehicles offer this type of alarm, or you can buy it as an aftermarket addition for $250–$500.
A couple caveats on the aftermarket option: The sensors may not sync with your car’s existing alarm, and you’ll need to have a repair shop install them, which costs an additional $225, on average. All told, you might be looking at more than $700—a lot of money, but less than what you’d spend on a new set of wheels.
Thieves almost always strike at night, staking out areas where they’re less likely to be discovered, like a dark street without lights. Park your car in areas where there’s more traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, and where there are security cameras, if possible. If you’re parking somewhere overnight, make sure your car is visible.
When you park your car, turn the wheels to a 45-degree angle. This will make it difficult for a thief to get the lug nuts off, because the inner fender will likely be in the way.
When parallel parking on the street, get as close as you can to the curb.
The closer your vehicle is, the more difficult it will be for a thief to put a jack underneath your parked car. While the street side of your car will still be exposed, at least the tires on the curb side of your car will be better protected.
Locking up all your wheels with metal boots—which cover the lug nuts like an earmuff—may sound a little extreme. After all, it takes anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to attach each one and may require special tools. But if you need to leave your parked car outside while you’re away for a long time, boots will certainly be a deterrent. They cost about $70 a pair (you’ll need two pair) and can be found online and in auto stores.
Here’s another smart way to help keep your car rolling along: auto insurance from GEICO. It might even save you some money—get a quote now and see if you could save!
Read More: 5 Ways To Prevent Car Theft
By Ellise Pierce
People do a lot to protect their cars from being stolen, but how about your tires? Having your tires stolen is one of the worst car-related things that can happen, but there are things you can do to keep your tires safe.
Here are the top five ways to keep thieves from stealing your tires.
One of the best ways to stop thieves from stealing tires is to park in a well-lit area in a highly trafficked place. Sometimes you may be parking somewhere fairly remote, like a train station parking lot. Try to park in a spot where your car is visible from the street or by people walking to and from the train. If it’s nighttime, try to park under a light, to make your car a less attractive target.
It can be more difficult to park in a highly trafficked, well-lit area at your house. If you don’t have a garage, your options may be limited.
Try to park underneath a light or in a place where your car is visible from the street. This reduces the likelihood that tire thieves will select your vehicle.
Lug nut locks attach right to your lugnut and make it really hard for tire thieves to take your tires.
You can put these on yourself, but if that seems a daunting task, a mechanic can do it for you. These typically cost around $100 for all four tires.
If you like the idea of a lock but don’t want a lugnut lock, there are also wheel locks. Cars.com says these wheel locks require a special anti-theft key tool to both install and remove.
Turning your wheels at a 45 degree angle makes it harder for thieves to get into the tire to remove them.
If you can park in an area that makes it harder for a thief to have access to your car, that can also help prevent someone from stealing your tires.
One of the things that tire thieves – or any thieves, really – like is when it’s easy to take what they want.
Knowing this can help you take steps to keep your tires safe, like making it harder for thieves to get to your tires. Similar to turning your wheels, parking close to the curb keeps thieves from being able to easily access your tires. And if there’s a choice between your car and another that’s easy to get to, thieves are more likely to pass on your car.
If you buy wheel alarms that attach right to the wheels, they’ll go off if someone tries to take your tires.
This is especially effective if you opt for an alarm with sensors, as they do a better job of picking up when someone is trying to take your tires.
If you’re worried about thieves stealing your tires, following these tips can keep your tires safe. Of course, if you have highly coveted and expensive tires, these tips may not be enough, but they’ll certainly reduce your risk. Thieves are more likely to opt for cars with tires that are easy to steal, and you can take steps to keep your tires safer.
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Vladimir Gavrilov
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
1030
Category: Auto
Despite the fact that there are a sufficient number of tires of various models and sizes in stock, their prices are starting to rise, and many sellers are trying to hold the goods until better times.
In addition, motorists are trying to stock up for the future. Demand for summer tires is up over 100% in 2022, especially for older models that are bought to replace broken tyres. Under these conditions, there is a risk that demand will be covered by used products, among which there are already frankly criminal samples. Attackers are expected to become active, who can remove tires and sell them to buyers for further sale. We tell you which wheels are more at risk of theft and how you can protect them.
If a car has old rusty stamped wheels with worn rubber, then such a vehicle is unlikely to attract the attention of criminals. Most often they take new, recently installed tires and good branded wheels, which they then sell at half the price to buyers in the markets. The most valued rubber with still unworn villi on the tread, which remain after pouring the top layer of rubber.
The case involves several people with predetermined roles. One intruder loosens the nuts on the wheels, the other puts pre-stored bricks under the bottom, after that a rolling jack is substituted, and the car rises one side up, despite the crumpling threshold.
Then the bolts are twisted and the wheels are removed, and bricks are placed instead of supports. In the same way, the other side rises and another pair of wheels twists.
As a rule, theft takes from three to twelve minutes. There are several ways to stop thieves.
The most common way to protect the wheels is to install “secrets”, that is, bolts with a unique head, the nozzle from which is made in a single copy and, in fact, is the key. "Secrets" can be divided into three types.
The first one is “secrets” with an external pattern, that is, bolts that have a different geometric figure instead of a standard hexagon on the head, for example, an asterisk with a different number of rays or a polyhedron with uneven edges. It is impossible to hook a standard wrench head on them, because it will not fall into the grooves. True, you can still unscrew such a bolt with the help of a gas wrench, with which you can clamp the entire head, unless, of course, it is hidden in a deep well of a cast disk.
This type of bolt has a head on which the edges are not on the outside, but on the inside. They are milled in the central part of the bolt. Outside, there remains a flat round surface, which cannot be grabbed with a gas wrench.
These are the most effective bolts, having a protective rotating ring that prevents the bolt from turning with a strong clamp. In addition to it, inside the head there are slots with a complex pattern, unique for each bolt. These "secrets" provide a high degree of protection, but do not last long due to the fast grinding of a complex profile.
Hole bolts are also used, which have several holes on the head. In them, as in the grooves, a unique nozzle for a balloon key is inserted.
However, criminals have long developed their own methods of dealing with "secrets". The first one is the spin. Thieves can pinch other bolts with such force that the hub part of the disc is compressed and the “secret” fastening is weakened.
Then the criminals twist it with a clamping tool.
In another case, ordinary bolts are completely unscrewed, and when the wheel hangs on one "secret", it is broken out of the hub.
Parking space is essential for protecting your car from intruders. It is best to press one side against a high curb to prevent installation of a jack under the threshold. Thieves don't like challenges, and chances are they will choose a different car to rob. They will not mess with cars that are on a slope or parked with one wheel on the curb. In this case, it is difficult to substitute a support under the bottom.
But the best way to protect yourself is to park your car in a paid parking lot.
An alarm system with presence sensors or reacting to vibrations, shocks and shocks can scare off intruders. Although few people pay attention to the signals of the security system now.
Another preventive measure is to park your car next to security cameras.
It is better that they are clearly visible and cover a significant area of the yard or parking lot. If there are no video cameras, then it’s a good idea to hang their dummies and warning signs about video surveillance in prominent places. At worst, you can leave the car under the window, providing direct visibility.
However, only an insurance policy provides the best protection. Wheels and tires can be insured, providing you with the possibility of compensation for damage from theft.
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Photo: AvtoVzglyad
and its separate parts are not worth it. The same wheels, which have also risen in price, are at particular risk. And if there is a threat, then it is necessary to develop protection against it.
The AvtoVzglyad portal has figured out how to save your movable property and not be left without wheels.
Efim Rozkin
Cases of theft of car wheels have increased significantly. The reason for this was the sanctions and breaks in supply chains. Naturally, ordinary people have become extreme, who now have to solve three problems at once: finding a spare part in a shortage, the cost of consumables and spare parts that has grown many times over, and more frequent cases of theft.
Several categories of auto parts fell under the attackers' sights at once. And all of them, with certain skills, knowledge and tools, are quite easy to dismantle.
So, headlights, lights, rear-view mirrors, bumpers, and, of course, wheels leave their homes in the car. The latter can be dismantled by attackers into tires and wheels, and sold separately. So if there is a buyer, go to the new owner in the collection. However, be that as it may, this does not make it easier for law-abiding citizens.
On their head, in addition to car maintenance and repair, the search for new wheels falls down. And given the increased price tag on them and the shortage, it is now not so easy to do this.
And here a logical question arises: how to protect the wheels from theft?
Photo: Drive2
Under the scrutiny of car thieves, of course, cars with new tires. And if they are worn on original discs, then stealing is a sweet, and most importantly, minute matter. By the way, in order to blow out the car, professionals will need no more than 10 minutes. And when working as a team - even less. And how to deal with it?
The most common method of dealing with theft of wheels is the installation of security bolts. These are bolts that require a special socket for a wheelbrace to tighten and unscrew. Without it, unscrewing the "secret" is almost impossible.
The pattern of the head of the security bolt can be varied. These are polyhedra; and an asterisk with a special size of rays; and a hidden head, the working edges of which are recessed into an absolutely smooth outline.
Such an ordinary gas wrench cannot be torn off. And to unscrew this bolt, you will need the so-called internal key. In general, there are a great many types of bolts with a secret.
And yet, secrets are not the solution to all problems. For those who are professionally engaged in theft, there is a solution for every “cunning” bolt. More precisely, these decisions are a whole suitcase. If someone likes your wheels, they will definitely be stolen. First, the attackers examine the security bolts in order to be sure to pick up the right tool. And then, to take the wheels away is a matter of time. An unyielding "secret" can even be broken, after unscrewing all the bolts. But what if it is not possible to save the wheels in this way?
Photos from open sources
There are ways. First, the most reliable of them is to park your car in paid parking. Cameras, security, a fenced area - all this significantly reduces the risk that you will be left without wheels.
However, if the need forces you to leave the car in a variety of places, then you need to do it right.
For example, when choosing a parking spot, preference should be given to one with good lighting, as well as office buildings or shops equipped with cameras. In this case, the best option would be parking spaces with a high curb. By pressing one side of the car to such a curb, you deprive intruders of the opportunity to substitute a jack under the bottom. Thus, at least two wheels will remain in place. And even that’s all, because the lack of wheels, firstly, raises questions from the buyer, and secondly, few people simply need it.
Having CCTV signs in your car can also save the life of your wheels. However, it is best if, instead of fake signs and dummies of DVRs, a camera is actually installed in the car, and even better, a good, and most importantly, sensitive alarm system with feedback.
Wheel protection requires complex solutions. Therefore, try to pay attention to all of them. Put good expensive security bolts with protection against unscrewing with adjustable and gas wrenches, as well as power screwdrivers (or better, two different sets of "secrets").
