Redmond police say brazen thieves making off with rims, tires
REDMOND, Wash. -- A recent rash of tire and rim thefts has police on the Eastside urging drivers to protect themselves.
Nate Rochon is in the market for new tires, but he's on guard after his buddy's tires and and rims were stolen right in front of his apartment.
"Rims and everything, hiked up on his stuff. Rims are taken and everything is gone, so he had to get some new ones," Rochon said.
And flashy rims with high-end tires don't come cheap.
"About $2,000 a rim with the tire, so that's about 8,000 bucks," Rochon said.
Redmond police say more than a dozen people have had their rims and tires stolen since late December.
Most of the thefts have happened in apartment complexes and every one has been at night. Police say victims come out to find their vehicle on cinder blocks or jacks.
"Just turning around and trying to sell them to get quick cash whether it's on Craigslist or Ebay," said Jim Bove of the Redmond Police Department.
Bove said there are ways for car owners to protect themselves.
"The aftermarket wheels usually have some sort of serial number on them, and they should record that," he said.
Police also suggest taking photos of your rims, which will make it easier to identify them if they are found in a pawn shop or online.
Rochon blames the bad economy for the spike in thefts.
"People are getting desperate now, so you got to watch out for that," he said.
Nate Rochon is in the market for new tires, but he's on guard after his buddy's tires and and rims were stolen right in front of his apartment.
"Rims and everything, hiked up on his stuff. Rims are taken and everything is gone, so he had to get some new ones," Rochon said.
And flashy rims with high-end tires don't come cheap.
"About $2,000 a rim with the tire, so that's about 8,000 bucks," Rochon said.
Redmond police say more than a dozen people have had their rims and tires stolen since late December.
Most of the thefts have happened in apartment complexes and every one has been at night. Police say victims come out to find their vehicle on cinder blocks or jacks.
"Just turning around and trying to sell them to get quick cash whether it's on Craigslist or Ebay," said Jim Bove of the Redmond Police Department.
Bove said there are ways for car owners to protect themselves.
"The aftermarket wheels usually have some sort of serial number on them, and they should record that," he said.
Police also suggest taking photos of your rims, which will make it easier to identify them if they are found in a pawn shop or online.
Rochon blames the bad economy for the spike in thefts.
"People are getting desperate now, so you got to watch out for that," he said.
Just another reason I stick to the stockers...no one typically wants them and if I happen to ever find a thief in the process I will be shooting first and asking questions second... all theives deserve a bullet right between the eyes!