E55 KEV

DC Area. Over the last few weeks I have met 2 guys and heard of 2 other stories. There must be a very well organized and very quick group of theives that are stealing wheels while the cars are actually parked in the owners driveway during the middle of night.

1. One owner I met with a Ford F150 Harley Davidson version with 20 inch chrome wheels - his truck parked in front of garage awoke to find his truck on blocks. His BMW 740i Sport could not be removed from the garage for 3 weeks until he got new wheels - the truck was blocking the car.

2. Another owner of a 2002 CL55 AMG also had his wheels removed while he slept. In both cases the theives leave a $100 floor jack under the car.

3. I met a lady that said the same happen to 2 people in her suburban neighborhood - one car was a W140 CL600 Coupe.

I did not ask the owners if they had wheel locks but that only slows them down a second or two. They must be using portable impact jacks and wheel lock removal keys.

Earlier this year a local news story - I guy found his stolen wheels/tires on Ebay off his Audi S4. The police set up a sting, bidded, purchased the set and arrested the Ebay sellers. They had a location full of stolen stuff.

Harris

I think the cops must have A LOT of free time to do something like that. IMO, better spend their time to crack down more serious crimes. :o

JamE55

That's pretty bad!

E55 KEV

Most Police Depts have officers assigned to Burglury and Theft crimes. Some have officers that work with Pawn shops looking for stolen stuff.

Even though my Insurance will pay for new wheels and tires I'd like to keep my $500 deductible and no increase in my rates. When someone steals a set of rims and tires valued in the thousands of dollars that's serious, especially when they come on your property to do it. These guys are probably packing guns for the owners that wake up and catch them in the act.

Scylas

ahh if you guys only knew...

what u see and hear when you are from where Im from, Venezuela... all kinds of crazy stuff like this.

shtatc

Hey Scylas,

I have been to Venezuela - twice - 3 months each time. I have seen and heard alot of stories like this. Even worse - some really bad stories. It is scary to know that people are bold enough to steal the wheels off your car parked in your own driveway. You never know what they have on them. What would you do if you caught them? No win situation.

Moser

I thought the Mercedes alarm system had anti jacking sensors that set the alarm off when the car is jacked up???? .Did they not operate in these cases?

E55 KEV

That is "Anti-Towing" not "Anti-Wheel Changing".

Moser

Yeah, that's the point.
You have to elevate the car to tow or take the wheels off.
That is what is supposed to set it off.

Anti towing sounds better than anti Jacking...... but it is effectively an anti Jacking sensor..... at least that is what I was told....

Scylas

Its easier to say it than to do it, in Venezuela I would shoot them. Here, I might call the cops or.. . try to mae them go away.

mmgrad

Whats the world coming to... makes me scared to drive my car out.... and seriously making me think twice about getting new rims for the car... especially since my Insurance won't cover aftermarket Rims

sigh....