It’s the last thing you’d expect: you leave work after a long day or leave your home early for work only to realize that your car tires have gone. Where are your tires? Although car theft is well-known, not many people worry about their tires being taken.
So why are thieves stealing tires from cars, and how can you keep it from happening to you?
Why do Thieves Steal Car Tires
Experts say thieves steal tires for a simple reason; they’re easy to steal. It doesn’t take long for someone to steal tires from a car. According to expert opinions, “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.”
Sometimes, people work in groups to make this even quicker; they work in teams and jack up the entire car at once, then take off the tires two or even four at a time. Anything that’s not difficult to steal and can be worth a decent amount of money is at risk of being stolen.
This leads to another reason thieves are targeting tires: they’re worth money. People are always looking for good deals on tires. In addition to buying tires on online car websites, people often sell tires they don’t need on social media or to mechanic villages. This makes it easy for someone who has stolen tires to sell them without getting noticed. You can’t track your car tire like your car. You can’t easily identify a stolen car tire. So, how do you protect your car tires?
How to Prevent Someone From Stealing Your Car Tires
If you’d like to save your tires from being stolen, an important step you can take is to park in a well-lit area in a highly trafficked place. Sometimes, you may park somewhere remote. Try to park 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.
You can also buy lug nut locks. You can put them on yourself or have a mechanic put them on for you. You can turn your wheels to a 45-degree angle. This 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 access your car, that can also help prevent someone from stealing your tires.
You can also buy an alarm with a sensor that will go off if thieves try to jack up your car to remove your tires. These sensors are attached to the wheels themselves.
Conclusion
If there’s been a rash of tire thieves in your neighbourhood, or you just really like having tires on your car, keeping these tips in mind can keep you from discovering your car is undrivable and your tires are long gone.
