Wheels & Tyres being STOLEN!

lambuhere1 · 20th January 2009, 10:41

Bangalore Mirror - Tyres under threat, News - City,Bangalore Mirror=

A Tata Indica car attached to an MNC was parked in front of the driver’s house in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, T Dasarahalli on Sunday. When the driver woke up the next morning, he was startled to find his car wheel-less on the right side! The vehicle’s anti-theft system had obviously failed miserably.
In another incident, M T Vijay Kumar, a resident of NGEF Layout, Nagarbhavi had parked his car on the road outside his house. Before going to sleep around midnight, Vijay had checked his vehicle and found everything okay, but the next morning brought a similar shock for him — this time, the two left wheels were missing! The telltale sign of the theft: a stone placed under the chassis.
Piece of cake
Welcome to the latest brainwave of car thieves. Of the five lakh-plus cars in Bangalore, a large majority are parked on the roads outside the owners’ residences. Most cars have anti-theft systems and an attempt to open the car doors or windows sets off an alarm. But wheels have no such protection — all that is needed is a box spanner to unscrew and remove them. And even car jacks are not required — in some cases the miscreants have placed stones under the chassis to remove the wheels. From then on, it’s smooth sailing as the tyres are removed from the assembly and resold for anything from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000. Besides, the police are hardly likely to scour the resale market for stolen tyres!
Brand attraction
An inspector of the Central Crime Branch said the thieves repaint stolen tyres to give them a new look and sell them for a lot less than the actual price. Naturally, new and branded tyres are preferred, not bald, worn-out ones! The stolen tyres are sold at places like J C Road, Kalasipalyam, Siddaiah Road and Shivajinagar areas, he said.
Hire a guard
The officer suggested that in every locality, owners who park their cars on the roads can join hands and hire a security guard to keep an eye on their vehicles.
Prevention is better
For those who didn’t know, there are two safety gadgets to prevent tyre thefts — wheel locks and anti-theft lug nuts. Of the two, wheel locks are a more effective deterrent. They work like regular lug nuts (the nut that holds the wheel to the axle) except that wheel locks can only be removed with a wheel-lock key, a specially shaped socket. There is one wheel lock per wheel (although if you want, you can place a second one on each wheel). Wheel locks are also available for spare tyres.
Anti-theft lug nuts make it difficult for thieves because of the unconventional shape of the nut. For example, it could be a seven-sided lug nut which can be opened only with the correct seven-sided spanner. If you lose your wheel-lock key, your car or tyre dealer can usually replace it or, at worst, break the lock and put on a new one.
Other objects of desire
1. Music system
2. Speakers
3. Fancy steering wheels
4. Seat covers
5. DVD players
WHY THIEVES LOVE TYRES
Easy to steal, don’t need jacks, even stones will do; thieves sell them for Rs 750 to 1,000; at places like J C Road, Kalasipalyam, Siddaiah Road and Shivajinagar
HOW TO PREVENT TYRE THEFTS WHEEL LOCKS
Wheel locks can only be removed with a wheel-lock key. There is one wheel lock per wheel (although if you want, you can place a second one on each wheel). Wheel locks are also available for spare tyres.
LUG NUTS
A seven-sided lug nut can be opened only with the correct seven-sided spanner. If you lose your wheel-lock key, your car or tyre dealer can usually replace it or, at worst, break the lock and put on a new one.

********************************

Did anyone try these options on the wheels ? Can you let us know where we can find it in BLR ?

PS: Mods, kindly merge with any existing thread on relevant topic. Thanks for the help

lohithrao · 20th January 2009, 10:49

Oops thats bad! where can i find the wheel locks? and how much they cost?

aka_iitd · 20th January 2009, 10:51

More info at Buying New Wheels - Wheel Locks vs. Anti-theft Lug Nuts
Looks like info was picked from this website. Other relevant info on how to maintain the tyres is also there

benbsb29 · 20th January 2009, 10:57

A colleague of mine who owned a Ford ikon 1.6 had the shock of his life when he got up one morning to find one wheel stolen, and the car standing on a stone.

Since he originally had only 4 alloys, it always looked odd even after he bought a new wheel. He didnt replace the missing alloy.

vinaydas · 20th January 2009, 11:15

thats sad.. thank god my cars are parked inside

although vehicles parked outside are subject to fuel theft..
the best part is that guy who steals the fuel is a kid because he can easily fit under the car unlike larger adults the kid reports the fuel to the adult he was assigned to..
recently in my area the kid was caught he led to the adult no 1 took action but warned them all now they wont steal fuel cos if any fuel is missing everyone's finger points in one direction

Blur · 20th January 2009, 11:59

Sheesh, that's bad.

Never heard of such things happening in Mumbai though. Only seen it in Bollywood movies.

And although my car is parked inside the building compound, this wheel lock thing seems like a good option.

Another question. Since they do the whole lift while keeping a stone underneath the car, doesn't it damage the underside in any way? Because, one has to almost stand on the spanner while loosening the wheel nuts...
This could have serious repurcussions, more than just missing tyres

dadu · 20th January 2009, 12:50

Will encouraging of street dogs help here, I guess they would be coiming in the dead of the night and street dogs are a deterrent and an alarm.

rkg · 20th January 2009, 13:04

this happened long back in HSR layout( may be a year or two)
my colleague parked maruti van as usual inside the parking lot of the his home at night. by morning entire engine, tyres and every thing is stolen. only the the body was resting on stones. the thief's bolted the door from outside and removed everything.
my colleague has shifted to an apartment

Eddy · 20th January 2009, 13:10

Its happened to a friend of mine in the Palika Bazaar Parking, CP, New Delhi

potlaravi · 20th January 2009, 22:01

It happened to my one of friend ‘s Matiz , he given his Matiz in a work shop.( in Guntur , AP). Lost all 4 new tyres.The put stone at all the 4 places after removing the tyres

adc · 22nd March 2009, 14:04

Anyone knowing where wheel locks or anti-theft lug nuts are available out here?

binz · 22nd March 2009, 14:15

Hmm .. hope i find something nice for trackday

On more serious note,there are security systems whose alarms go off if the car is jacked up.

GTO · 23rd March 2009, 10:12

Related thread : Wheel locking nuts

prince_pervez · 23rd March 2009, 11:04

Great! I have a steering lock, a gear lock and Autocop. And I thought that would do it! Damn! I need to put wheel locks now?! This keeps getting better and better each day. Does anyone have any info on where to get them in Bangalore?

Bhargava_sr · 19th September 2009, 04:45

Hi Friends,

My friend has a 2007 Model Indica V2 Turbo DLG, last week when his car was parked in front of his house during a night, Front right wheel was removed and replace with a 13' Flat tyre set.
He suspects this done by a Cab driver
Now he is currently using the Spare wheel

Please let me know anywhere in Bangalore we can get a used 14' Rim with Tyre to use it as a spare wheel, The rest of the tyres are good for 10-15k kms more and hence currently no plan to replace all tyres.

20th January 2009, 10:41	#1
lambuhere1 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: @ Driver's Seat @ Posts: 708 Thanked: 106 Times	Wheels & Tyres being STOLEN! Bangalore Mirror - Tyres under threat, News - City,Bangalore Mirror= A Tata Indica car attached to an MNC was parked in front of the driver’s house in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, T Dasarahalli on Sunday. When the driver woke up the next morning, he was startled to find his car wheel-less on the right side! The vehicle’s anti-theft system had obviously failed miserably. In another incident, M T Vijay Kumar, a resident of NGEF Layout, Nagarbhavi had parked his car on the road outside his house. Before going to sleep around midnight, Vijay had checked his vehicle and found everything okay, but the next morning brought a similar shock for him — this time, the two left wheels were missing! The telltale sign of the theft: a stone placed under the chassis. Piece of cake Welcome to the latest brainwave of car thieves. Of the five lakh-plus cars in Bangalore, a large majority are parked on the roads outside the owners’ residences. Most cars have anti-theft systems and an attempt to open the car doors or windows sets off an alarm. But wheels have no such protection — all that is needed is a box spanner to unscrew and remove them. And even car jacks are not required — in some cases the miscreants have placed stones under the chassis to remove the wheels. From then on, it’s smooth sailing as the tyres are removed from the assembly and resold for anything from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000. Besides, the police are hardly likely to scour the resale market for stolen tyres! Brand attraction An inspector of the Central Crime Branch said the thieves repaint stolen tyres to give them a new look and sell them for a lot less than the actual price. Naturally, new and branded tyres are preferred, not bald, worn-out ones! The stolen tyres are sold at places like J C Road, Kalasipalyam, Siddaiah Road and Shivajinagar areas, he said. Hire a guard The officer suggested that in every locality, owners who park their cars on the roads can join hands and hire a security guard to keep an eye on their vehicles. Prevention is better For those who didn’t know, there are two safety gadgets to prevent tyre thefts — wheel locks and anti-theft lug nuts. Of the two, wheel locks are a more effective deterrent. They work like regular lug nuts (the nut that holds the wheel to the axle) except that wheel locks can only be removed with a wheel-lock key, a specially shaped socket. There is one wheel lock per wheel (although if you want, you can place a second one on each wheel). Wheel locks are also available for spare tyres. Anti-theft lug nuts make it difficult for thieves because of the unconventional shape of the nut. For example, it could be a seven-sided lug nut which can be opened only with the correct seven-sided spanner. If you lose your wheel-lock key, your car or tyre dealer can usually replace it or, at worst, break the lock and put on a new one. Other objects of desire 1. Music system 2. Speakers 3. Fancy steering wheels 4. Seat covers 5. DVD players WHY THIEVES LOVE TYRES Easy to steal, don’t need jacks, even stones will do; thieves sell them for Rs 750 to 1,000; at places like J C Road, Kalasipalyam, Siddaiah Road and Shivajinagar HOW TO PREVENT TYRE THEFTS WHEEL LOCKS Wheel locks can only be removed with a wheel-lock key. There is one wheel lock per wheel (although if you want, you can place a second one on each wheel). Wheel locks are also available for spare tyres. LUG NUTS A seven-sided lug nut can be opened only with the correct seven-sided spanner. If you lose your wheel-lock key, your car or tyre dealer can usually replace it or, at worst, break the lock and put on a new one. ******************************** Did anyone try these options on the wheels ? Can you let us know where we can find it in BLR ? PS: Mods, kindly merge with any existing thread on relevant topic. Thanks for the help
	(3) Thanks

20th January 2009, 10:49	#2
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	Oops thats bad! where can i find the wheel locks? and how much they cost?
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 10:51	#3
aka_iitd BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 630 Thanked: 45 Times	More info at Buying New Wheels - Wheel Locks vs. Anti-theft Lug Nuts Looks like info was picked from this website. Other relevant info on how to maintain the tyres is also there Last edited by aka_iitd : 20th January 2009 at 10:54.
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 10:57	#4
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,969 Thanked: 13,233 Times View My Garage	A colleague of mine who owned a Ford ikon 1.6 had the shock of his life when he got up one morning to find one wheel stolen, and the car standing on a stone. Since he originally had only 4 alloys, it always looked odd even after he bought a new wheel. He didnt replace the missing alloy.
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 11:15	#5
vinaydas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times	thats sad.. thank god my cars are parked inside although vehicles parked outside are subject to fuel theft.. the best part is that guy who steals the fuel is a kid because he can easily fit under the car unlike larger adults the kid reports the fuel to the adult he was assigned to.. recently in my area the kid was caught he led to the adult no 1 took action but warned them all now they wont steal fuel cos if any fuel is missing everyone's finger points in one direction
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 11:59	#6
Blur BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 173 Thanked: 19 Times	Sheesh, that's bad. Never heard of such things happening in Mumbai though. Only seen it in Bollywood movies. And although my car is parked inside the building compound, this wheel lock thing seems like a good option. Another question. Since they do the whole lift while keeping a stone underneath the car, doesn't it damage the underside in any way? Because, one has to almost stand on the spanner while loosening the wheel nuts... This could have serious repurcussions, more than just missing tyres
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 12:50	#7
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Will encouraging of street dogs help here, I guess they would be coiming in the dead of the night and street dogs are a deterrent and an alarm.
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 13:04	#8
rkg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 594 Times	this happened long back in HSR layout( may be a year or two) my colleague parked maruti van as usual inside the parking lot of the his home at night. by morning entire engine, tyres and every thing is stolen. only the the body was resting on stones. the thief's bolted the door from outside and removed everything. my colleague has shifted to an apartment
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 13:10	#9
Eddy Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,388 Thanked: 13,306 Times	Its happened to a friend of mine in the Palika Bazaar Parking, CP, New Delhi
	() Thanks

20th January 2009, 22:01	#10
potlaravi BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: STL MO Posts: 148 Thanked: 3 Times View My Garage	It happened to my one of friend ‘s Matiz , he given his Matiz in a work shop.( in Guntur , AP). Lost all 4 new tyres.The put stone at all the 4 places after removing the tyres
	() Thanks

22nd March 2009, 14:04	#11
adc Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,352 Thanked: 2,289 Times View My Garage	Anyone knowing where wheel locks or anti-theft lug nuts are available out here?
	() Thanks

22nd March 2009, 14:15	#12
binz Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,306 Thanked: 431 Times View My Garage	Hmm .. hope i find something nice for trackday On more serious note,there are security systems whose alarms go off if the car is jacked up.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 10:12	#13
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,789 Times View My Garage	Related thread : Wheel locking nuts
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 11:04	#14
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Great! I have a steering lock, a gear lock and Autocop. And I thought that would do it! Damn! I need to put wheel locks now?! This keeps getting better and better each day. Does anyone have any info on where to get them in Bangalore?
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 04:45	#15
Bhargava_sr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: HOSUR Posts: 317 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Indica V2 Turbo Tyre Stolen in Bangalore Hi Friends, My friend has a 2007 Model Indica V2 Turbo DLG, last week when his car was parked in front of his house during a night, Front right wheel was removed and replace with a 13' Flat tyre set. He suspects this done by a Cab driver Now he is currently using the Spare wheel Please let me know anywhere in Bangalore we can get a used 14' Rim with Tyre to use it as a spare wheel, The rest of the tyres are good for 10-15k kms more and hence currently no plan to replace all tyres.
	() Thanks