How do you guys keep people from stealing nice wheels?
#31
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Just thinking outside the box a lil'...
Is there any logic to parking real close to the curb? Seems like it would make the car harder to lift.
These look nice...
Gorilla Automotive 71633N "The System" Acorn Wheel Locks
Each lug is a lock. Cheap too.
Take the bling off your wheels (For instance: I can't imagine a "Volk" center cap is going to deter any would-be thieves).
Maybe you could put a sticker inside the wheels (on the rim where it can't be accessed unless the tire is dismounted) that says something like...
Say your wheels and tires get stolen by someone who didn't know about the note/sticker and they take the wheels to a reputable shop to have the tires changed at some point. Perhaps the reputable shop will alert the authorities and/or you.
Actually, that sounds like a damn good idea to me! I'm going to do that with the wheels I'm having delivered today.
Is there any logic to parking real close to the curb? Seems like it would make the car harder to lift.
These look nice...
Gorilla Automotive 71633N "The System" Acorn Wheel Locks
Each lug is a lock. Cheap too.
Take the bling off your wheels (For instance: I can't imagine a "Volk" center cap is going to deter any would-be thieves).
Maybe you could put a sticker inside the wheels (on the rim where it can't be accessed unless the tire is dismounted) that says something like...
The true owner of this wheel should have told you the phrase " <something random> ". If they didn't it's likely this wheel was stolen; please call the police.
Please email someemail@somedomain.com if they are found.
Please email someemail@somedomain.com if they are found.
Actually, that sounds like a damn good idea to me! I'm going to do that with the wheels I'm having delivered today.
Last edited by Hirudin; Nov 4, 2011 at 02:40 PM.
#33
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Welp, I thought I had a good idea up there so I made some labels to put inside my new wheels. I went to Staples and bought a package of Avery "Neon Assorted High Visibility Labels" and printed a message similar to the one I attached. I have also attached the a word document that can be used to print your own labels if you want.
If anyone cares: the labels are ~0.5 grams each.
If anyone cares: the labels are ~0.5 grams each.
#34
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I use an alarm by Avital that has a 2 way paging system. And I park in the garage when at home, you can never guarantee something from not being stolen just take precautions to limit the chances. Besides alarms and locks are just to keep the honest people honest.
#35
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Welp, I thought I had a good idea up there so I made some labels to put inside my new wheels. I went to Staples and bought a package of Avery "Neon Assorted High Visibility Labels" and printed a message similar to the one I attached. I have also attached the a word document that can be used to print your own labels if you want.
If anyone cares: the labels are ~0.5 grams each.
If anyone cares: the labels are ~0.5 grams each.
#36
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That info is usually on the outside of the wheel, isn't it? I plan to put the sticker inside the tire/rim cavity. So, if the thief dismounts the tire himself, he'll surely find it. I know it's possible to mount and dismount tires at home, but I'm betting it's not common. If he takes the wheel/tire to someone else or sells it to someone who eventually takes it somewhere it's possible a more honest person will see the sticker first. Who knows, for the half hour spent making the stickers you might get some valuable wheels returned to you at some point.
#38
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ATTENTION / THEFT WARNING:
THIS WHEEL IS INSTALLED ON A BLUE 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE: TVN-0895
THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF THE OWNER'S CA DRIVERS LICENSE IS 4152
IF FOUND ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE, PLEASE VERIFY DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER AND
CONTACT THE STATE POLICE (555-555-5555) IF WHEELS ARE SUSPECTED TO BE STOLEN
$200 CASH REWARD IF RECOVERED
THIS WHEEL IS INSTALLED ON A BLUE 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE: TVN-0895
THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF THE OWNER'S CA DRIVERS LICENSE IS 4152
IF FOUND ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE, PLEASE VERIFY DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER AND
CONTACT THE STATE POLICE (555-555-5555) IF WHEELS ARE SUSPECTED TO BE STOLEN
$200 CASH REWARD IF RECOVERED
#40
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That info is usually on the outside of the wheel, isn't it? I plan to put the sticker inside the tire/rim cavity. So, if the thief dismounts the tire himself, he'll surely find it. I know it's possible to mount and dismount tires at home, but I'm betting it's not common. If he takes the wheel/tire to someone else or sells it to someone who eventually takes it somewhere it's possible a more honest person will see the sticker first. Who knows, for the half hour spent making the stickers you might get some valuable wheels returned to you at some point.
#41
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I think that's a great idea.. but instead of requesting the shop's tire guy to stop what he's doing - come out to find you - then remember your email, to verify it (which at this point the sticker might just be ignored during a busy day).. maybe just a basic descriptor - then a less intrusive verification might be more successful...
Just an idea.. and adjust/remove reward as needed
Just an idea.. and adjust/remove reward as needed
Your message also has the added benefit of being more than just "information". It's possible the person stealing my wheels could also know my email address. :/
I was kinda thinking I would alert the store to the sticker before they started any work. I'd say something like "There's a sticker in the wheels that asks for my email address. It's someone@domain.com."
Oooohhh yeah: I figured the email address would work both as a "unique identifier" and also would allow the police to contact you. I guess the license plate number would also do that though.
Last edited by Hirudin; Nov 5, 2011 at 08:15 PM.
#42
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Think the description & plate is more important though (both being safe to give out, since the thief already had access to that info). Once the tire guy sees the warning, by then he'd already know the car's a blue Mitsu something at least, ignore the plate info and go about his business. But, if he just pulled the wheels off a white '89 Camry, and then sees the warning, he'll probably be curious enough to check out the plate - and then hopefully try to verify the DL #, email or whatever.
If it actually gets as far as the police being involved, I would think they'd be able to somehow contact you by using the plate # alone. That way you could confirm the wheels were actually stolen, and also to eventually recover them.
Dunno man.. just ideas. Not 100% sure I'd actually want a $3k+ set of TE37s back, if they've been damaged - and the insurance would've covered it otherwise.
Kay, now someone else tell me more about wheel locks, tilt sensors and street justice
#43
http://site.icbmotorsport.com/New3/V..._SetBlue_3.jpg
those are a ***** to take off, id get those they are a bit pricey but when your spending over 3g's on wheels on why not..
next step. Get Center Lug wheels. Porsche Status. see who would dare take you wheel haha. my 2cents..
those are a ***** to take off, id get those they are a bit pricey but when your spending over 3g's on wheels on why not..
next step. Get Center Lug wheels. Porsche Status. see who would dare take you wheel haha. my 2cents..
#44