What’s Causing the Increase in Tire and Rim Theft?

Commercial parking lots, dealerships, and parking garages are packed with vehicles.

Every one of these vehicles is a target for opportunist thieves who have their eyes set on, amongst other things, the vehicle’s tires and rims.

But what is causing the sudden interest in these particular components?  

As with many crime spikes, the COVID-19 pandemic has a part to play.

Lingering supply chain issues have caused a backlog of availability, which in turn has created high demand and rising prices.

Below, the security experts at LotGuard explain how a back market has developed and how to protect your vehicles from thieves.  

Why Steal Tires and Rims?

The simple answer is that, far too often, tire and rim theft is low-risk and high-reward.

Even though some tires and rims can be marked with identification serial numbers, they are extremely difficult to trace back to their rightful owner.

Also, if you don’t have any notes of your serial numbers, it’s impossible to prove that they are yours.

Unless the thief is caught in the act, it’s unlikely the crime will ever be resolved.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB), a person involved in the theft of tires and rims can earn up to $400.

These stolen parts then make their way to the person who sells to small tire dealers or repair shops, bringing in up to $900.  

The repair shop then resells to individuals who required those on their vehicle and bill the insurance company up to $1,300.

Prevent Tire and Rim Theft on Your Parking Lots

If you own a commercial parking lot, auto dealership or parking garage and are concerned about securing the vehicles on your premises, speak to LotGuard today.

LotGuard’s mobile video surveillance units are designed to detect, mitigate, and report any criminal activity and enhance the security of parking lots.

The video below shows how our proactive crime prevention solution works:

LotGuard can operate regardless of power, internet, and mounting pole availability at your lots.

The customizable security camera profile includes IR PTZ cameras, thermal cameras, license plate recognition cameras (LPR), and four-way multisensor cameras, all capable of delivering live and recorded footage through 4G LTE technology.

Reach out to our LotGuard team today to learn more.

Daniel del Soldato

Head of Communications

Daniel has been at Wireless CCTV over 10 years and has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge when it comes to CCTV products and the way they operate. In his spare time Daniel likes to listen to music, watch football and spend quality time with his family.