Another string of Honda tire thefts was reported in Rocky River and Bay Village.
Lt. Calvin Holliday with Bay Village Police said the thieves are targeting the tire rims. But, even when they're caught, there is no way to get the rims back to their owners.
One victim, who did not wish to be identified, says she left her car in her driveway, instead of in her garage, out of convenience.
“Police informed me by coming into my house at 6:15 in the morning,” she said.
The woman said she was shocked when she walked out to her own driveway and found her tires were gone.
“I didn't expect this to happen in my neighborhood,” she said, “I never felt my neighborhood was unsafe, until now.”
Neighbors in Rocky River said they were also shocked.
"I was shocked, because Rocky River doesn't usually have a bad neighborhood, and there's not a lot usually a lot of crime,” said Steven Shepard, neighbor.
Lt. Holliday said Hondas have a type of rim that is 100 percent aluminum, which costs more than $500 to replace.
“It's time - you can be in and out in under a minute and get four tires with rims and you have $2000 plus in hand,” he said.
Most owners will never see their rims again.
“Say somebody loses their iPhone,” said Lt. Holliday, “You know who that belongs to, but rims, they all look the same, you can't tell who they belong to.”
Police said the rims have no serial numbers or markings. They advise people to mark their own numbers, so police can identify them if they are stolen and then recovered.
“We call it an OAN, owner applied number,” said Lt. Holliday.
The victim said she's learned her lesson.
“I’m very wary of making sure the doors are locked, and the garage door is closed,” she said.
Neighbors say they are also on alert.
“If I see something out of the ordinary, I try to ask them what they're doing,” said Shepard.
Police said they work with scrap metal businesses and do monitor suspicious online activity, but advise car owners to take preventative measures to protect their cars beforehand.
