Sitting here with the blinds partially open and see a white Chevy express panel van slowly go by my FIL’s car we are borrowing at the moment. Its a newer Honda Fit with semi-expensive rims he put on it. The passenger is craning his neck hard looking at the car as they go by. About 15 seconds later they actually back up and are next to the car. Both passenger and driver are staring hard at it & smiling/saying something. They sit there for 3-4 seconds then take off at a normal speed. Not enough time to get a plate.
Never seen that van in the neighborhood. No markings or company information. Passenger was younger hispanic male. Driver was younger black male. They didn’t appear to be wearing any company shirts or work uniforms.
Looked up recent crime reports for the city and there were a few vehicle breaks in and one home burglary.
Mark LaRue actually posted about gangs marking cars tires at gun shops and then following them home and breaking in to steal guns. I think the intel came from a snitch LE turned or something… He was the second one I read that same thing from.
Maybe they just thought the FIT looked cool? Good eye though…
Probably after the rims. The new Hondas are not as easy to steal as the older ones. Ive never taken a stolen Fit report. One vehicle that, surprisingly, is actually very easy to steal is the Ford F250/350s. They get stolen a lot here in Phx and if you know what you are doing takes less than 45 seconds.
They were either admiring the car/wheels or up to no good. I don’t know the area you live in but would let the neighbors know to watch for the van and keep an eye out…but if I recall from some of your other posts, you’re pretty squared away on home security/defense.
We had an on going issue around here with wheels getting stolen from newer honda’s (apparently the price per wheel went up and they were all targets), specifically the Honda Fit and newer Accords/Civics.
We watched them drive by in a minivan, two-three times over two-three days and they would write down where the vehicles were parked.
Wheels. Tires go on wheels. The rim of a wheel retains the tire bead. Calling wheels “rims” for car guys is tantamount to calling a magazine a clip unless you’re of the “spinnas” persuasion.
Sorry, drives me batshit insane. Does anyone know if those security lugnuts with the oddball pattern actually deters theft? This assumes the thief doesn’t happen to have the same key as the ones you have installed.
Yes and no. Some of the better companies like McGuard actually have a ton of different patterns that have minor differences so just going and buying a set with a new lock won’t allow you to go out and use it elsewhere. I think the rep told me there are about ten different patterns for that company alone, hence why you get a security code in the box so if need be you can order another key from them.
When cars used to come into the shop and the owner did not have the “key”, we would sacrifice a six-point socket and pound it over the head of the lug nut and turn it off. NAPA and some others actually now make a kit with tapered wall sockets that can be pounded on to take off wheel locks. All that being said, you’d probably hear them pounding away before they got away with any of your wheels.
i had them on my tbird and lost the key. a 1/2in breaker with a 3/4 socket and a hammer cured that problem. With a torque rate of 95ft/lbs, it doesnt take much. if the scumbag wants what you have, they will take it.
my F150 was stolen almost a year about and I found it 5 miles away devoid of everything of value, except for my surefire…
besides not being able to get the plate number, were there any other distinguishing features that you were able to ID? Dents, dings, etc… near the doors, scuffs around the fender, oddball make of tire, dealership decal? The reason why I ask is simple. The day my truck was stolen I parked next to a Chevy Avalanche on 24s, when I got out of the truck, I took a look at the tires and the metallic fade paint as it was a Mark III custom truck. I’ve never seen the truck before in my parking lot during business hours, I always eyeball vehicles that stand out and know what most all of my customers drive. I didnt see said truck again during business hours and suddenly see it one night after work ( and after the close of business) and then again twice more, so I wrote down the plate number and had a friend look it up for me…Just some food for thought.
Yes I know wheels from rims. Mental slip up on my part.
And I just may be breaking the wheels off the car myself anyways. I have the parts to do a front brake job and the key for the lug nuts is missing. Its not our car and no one knows where it is. Maybe forgot to be put back in the car when my dad got new tires last year.
The wheels he has on it now are Enkei which cost about 250-400 each plus the tires. He also paid a few thousand for Mugen body kit parts. No idea my dad would be a ricer but I sure feel like one when I driving that car around. I drive a (as of recent paid off) 07 350Z so I don’t drive it often…
Do people steal aftermarket body panels as well? Enkei and Mugen…not cheap stuff. I wouldn’t classify Enkei as ricer. People actually run several models like the RFP1 as one of the lightest non-forged alternatives on the track.
I drive a (as of recent paid off) 07 350Z so I don’t drive it often… 