Wheel thefts continue in Philly as Northeast resident's car is stripped in minutes
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Northeast Philadelphia woman whose car was left sitting on a crate after thieves stole its wheels is speaking out as police continue efforts to combat wheel thefts citywide.
Judiyah Baxter said she woke up July 19 to discover her Honda Accord had been stripped of its wheels outside her apartment.
"She said, 'I'm so sorry to wake you, but your car is on crates,'" Baxter recalled being told by a neighbor.
Baxter said the theft left her feeling violated.
"I'm angry, but I also feel invaded and violated," she said.
Police say surveillance video captured the theft, providing investigators with a clear view of the suspects. The footage shows two men arriving in what police described as a stolen Dodge Durango before targeting Baxter's car.
According to the video, the men jacked up the vehicle and began removing the lug nuts. The entire process, from the time they started removing the wheels until they loaded all four tires into their vehicle, took about seven minutes.
Baxter said wheel locks initially slowed the thieves. The suspects allegedly broke into the vehicle and took the key to the wheel locks from the glove box before removing the wheels.
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Citywide, police said there have been 268 wheel thefts reported so far this year.
"We have what we believe are three to five distinct groups. We believe they're not working together. And these groups consist of two to three individuals," Philadelphia Police Inspector Ray Evers said.
Philadelphia police said they are increasing patrols in areas where the crimes are most common, particularly near Center City.
Investigators are also monitoring tire sales as part of their enforcement efforts.
Authorities said those efforts have contributed to a decline in wheel thefts compared with last year.
For Baxter, however, the statistics offer little reassurance.
"What I have to say to these guys, 'Get a job. It's hard enough out here in this economy,'" she said.
Police recommend parking close to a curb and in well-lit areas to help deter thieves. Authorities also noted that wheel locks can slow down theft attempts, even if they do not always prevent them.
