Surveillance Camera Catches Tire Thieves In Action On Long Island
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are investigating another rash of tire and rim thefts on Long Island over the weekend.
Thieves struck seven times in North Massapequa and Hicksville between 1 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday.
One of the incidents was caught on video.
Michael Hansen installed a security camera a few years ago after tires and rims were stolen from a car parked in front of his North Massapequa home.
Tires, Rims Stolen From 7 Cars In North Massapequa, Hicksville
He said it was not the first time he had been targeted.
"The police said that because I am a couple of blocks from the Southern State Parkway, it makes it an easy escape," Hansen told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan.
Over the weekend, he was shocked to see thieves had struck again.
Surveillance Camera Catches Tire Thieves In Action In Massapequa
The video shows a group of men pulling up in a mini van next to his daughter's car early Sunday morning.
"Nonchalantly just got out of the vehicle like it was another day at work for them," Hansen said. "Yea, they looked like a pit crew."
They got the rims and tires off in minutes and left the car on cinder blocks, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
Hansen said his neighbor's car was also targeted.
Police are now taking a close look at multiple videos, which could lead to arrests from this recent stealing spree in Massapequa and Hicksville involving Hondas, Acuras and Infinitis, McLogan reported.
AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair told CBS2 last month that wheel theft is the new crime of choice now that anti-theft devices have made stealing cars themselves so difficult.
"We're seeing a lot of reports, from all across the country, about tire thefts," Sinclair said.
Experts suggest parking under bright lights, turning wheels so they're on an angle, and considering buying wheel locks, or some sort of alarm system.
There are also new inventions -- alerts and tracking -- to protect your wheels.
"It is controlled by an app on the user's cellphone," said Terry Gaskin, inventor of Rim Tech. "If someone comes within a 6-inch radius of that tire," the system will notify you and police in addition.
Anyone with information regarding is asked to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
