Police ‘Actively Investigating’ String of Wheel Thefts

Written by Mischa Arnosky

Upper Dublin Deputy Chief Lee Benson said his department is aware of the recent wheel thefts in the area and said that his department is working on “a few leads.”

Several vehicles have had their wheels and tires stripped; the thefts have happened in Whitemarsh, Springfield, Norristown and Upper Dublin townships, according to police reports. Benson said while it doesn’t appear the thieves are targeting any particular type of vehicle, it is possible that the thieves are “receiving orders” from someone else, cherry-picking specific vehicles.

In several of the cases, Benson said the vehicles have been left sitting on milk crates.

Some of the stolen vehicles left on plastic are:

• A 2009 Mazda CX-9 parked in a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Fort Washington
• A late model Hyundai Sonata parked at an Enterprise Rent-a-Car business in Springfield and
  
• A 2013 Dodge Charger parked in a Best Western Hotel parking lot in Fort Washington.
  

Another car, a Pontiac Grand Prix, was recently towed to a Flourtown body shop without its wheels and tires, according to the body shop’s manager.

Benson said in the case of the Mazda, the wheels and tires were stolen while a security guard was on duty. And, in the case of the Charger, there was a lot of hotel traffic coming and going.

“We are well aware of these thefts and thefts in other municipalities, Benson said. “It’s not something we’re downplaying. We are actively investigating and have a few leads.”