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Cops: Long Island Police Chase Ends In Arrest Of Suspected Tire Thieves

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Three suspects arrested following a police chase on Long Island early Wednesday morning are believed to be responsible for a string of tire thefts on the South Shore.

The incident unfolded around 3:30 a.m. after police received a call about the suspects allegedly stealing tires off a sports car on Carrollton Avenue in Wantagh, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports.

"His car got robbed about three or four weeks ago," witness Donna Cirasole, who called 911, said. "When I looked out the window I saw men walking around the car, bending over the car, and I knew that it was happening again."

1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports

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Responding officers pursued the suspects' vehicle for several miles.

The chase came to an end after the suspects' car ended up on the front lawn of a Massapequa home near the Fairfield Elementary School, police said.

One suspect was arrested at the scene while two others, who fled on foot, were collared a short time later, police said.

Charges against all three are pending.

The suspects are believed to be responsible in a slew of tire rim thefts since the start of the year.

"Since the beginning of the year we've had dozens of these types of incidents and we've been trying very hard to apprehend these suspects so today was a very good arrest for us," Dep. Inspector Ken Lack said.

A car full of tires and rims has been recovered, police said.

Between January and March, police said 63 tire thefts had been reported. Car owners would wake to find their vehicles stripped of their tires and rims, left on cinder blocks or in some cases dropped in the driveway or the street.

A Wantagh dealership reported an estimated loss of $26,000 after rims and tires were taken from seven vehicles.

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