People are losing their tires

jamie said:

Any ideas what's going on with this trend - I've seen 2 instances of it - one in the CHS parking lot and one on Academy Street.  It seems like a tricky thing to guard against - just keep your eyes out for this activity.

it’s happening all over. It’s the nice rims they are going for. They drive around with four cinder blocks and a jack, power impact drills and complete the job in two minutes. So far I’ve seen multiple Honda civics targeted. 

Honda wheels have not changed in decades, so there is a huge and easy market for tire/wheel sets, even stock sets.  Plus, the alarms on Hondas do not have tilt sensors so they are easy to hit.  Wheel locks don't slow them.down at all.  The car hit Saturday night had wheel locks.

The world is going to hell in a handbasket. 

DanDietrich said:

…  Wheel locks don't slow them.down at all.  The car hit Saturday night had wheel locks.

Any idea how they are getting around the wheel locks??

There are just a few standard patterns for wheel locks.  I assume they just have a collection of adapters.  And all 4 wheels will use the same adapter, so once they have it for one wheel they are all set.

metaphysician said:

Any idea how they are getting around the wheel locks??

there’s a special socket that fits the locks. Dealerships have them. These guys are very much knowledgeable Honda techs. 

I’ll be picking up a set of aftermarket wheel locks if these guys are in cahoots with the stealership. 

foolish question:  but how does an average person change a flat tire if you need special equipment to get the wheel off?

RobertRoe said:

foolish question:  but how does an average person change a flat tire if you need special equipment to get the wheel off?

the owner of the car has the key. 

RobertRoe said:

foolish question:  but how does an average person change a flat tire if you need special equipment to get the wheel off?

Among the stuff in the trunk of your car when you leave the dealer's lot, is a "key" that allows the tire to be changed.

One of the lug nuts on the each of the tires is different from the the others. You have a "key" to fit this nut.

I buy a set of 4 regular nuts from the dealer and replace the 4 special nuts. This makes it easier to change a flat on the road. 

This happened to my next door neighbor a few years ago.  They rolled up right next to their driveway in the middle of the night and put their car on blocks.  WTF?

Link:  THINKWORK Lug Nut Remover, 10 Pieces Wheel Lock Removal Kit for Removing Stripped, Damaged, Frozen, Rusted, Rounded-Off Bolts, Nuts & Screws https://a.co/d/8OrTEbB

terp said:

This happened to my next door neighbor a few years ago.  They rolled up right next to their driveway in the middle of the night and put their car on blocks.  WTF?

Libertarians, no doubt.

dave said:

terp said:

This happened to my next door neighbor a few years ago.  They rolled up right next to their driveway in the middle of the night and put their car on blocks.  WTF?

Libertarians, no doubt.

It was during a fund drive for the Library.  The working theory is that it was Librarians. 

terp said:

dave said:

terp said:

This happened to my next door neighbor a few years ago.  They rolled up right next to their driveway in the middle of the night and put their car on blocks.  WTF?

Libertarians, no doubt.

It was during a fund drive for the Library.  The working theory is that it was Librarians. 

They would know how to do it, too.  

“The Count of Monte Cristo. You’d like it. It’s about a prison break.”
“You ought to file that under ‘Educational’ too.”

dave said:

terp said:

dave said:

terp said:

This happened to my next door neighbor a few years ago.  They rolled up right next to their driveway in the middle of the night and put their car on blocks.  WTF?

Libertarians, no doubt.

It was during a fund drive for the Library.  The working theory is that it was Librarians. 

They would know how to do it, too.  

They were so quiet about it. 

Some are losing their nuts also… I can’t imagine doing that in silence…