RCMP warning truck owners about Kamloops tire thieves

KAMLOOPS – Police in Kamloops are sounding the alarm over thieves stealing tires from pick-up trucks.

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says in a news release that since the beginning of December, tires were stolen from eight vehicles in the city.

In four cases, all of the tires were taken and the trucks were left on blocks. Mainly, Ford pick-up trucks have been targeted although one GMC truck also had its tires stolen, Shelkie says. The thefts have occurred in various neighbourhoods.

In September, a Kamloops woman had the tires stolen off her Ford truck which was parked outside her West End home.

Police are asking vehicle owners to protect their tires by:

• Parking in a garage if you have one
• Installing a car alarm that includes sensors that attach to the wheels
• Park in an area with high traffic and good lighting to deter thieves
• Turn your wheels when you park. This makes the wheels harder to remove because they get stuck in the wheel well
• Use wheel locks on each wheel. The locks fit on each wheel and make the lug nuts difficult to remove

“Thieves will strike where there’s opportunity,” Shelkie says. “Follow these preventive measures and don’t make it easy for them to remove the tires from your vehicle.”

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