Help Recover Your Stolen Wheels and Tires!
 

Rims and tires are expensive and as some of us have found out, they can be easily stolen.

Those of us who might be at high risk for this type of crime, may consider printing these notes up and having them placed within the tires.

Who knows, if our wheels and tires are stolen, this might just help them find their way back home!

http://www.the370z.com/members/troop...n-wheels-1.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/troop...n-wheels-2.jpg

interesting idea

You are much better off doing something like this: DataDots.

no you are not... thats more to prove its yours - this is more to let a person who has got your tires / wheels unknowingly. Not to mention - thieves now will take the tires off to see if there is a message inside lol

This seems like a decent idea. However, the person who unknowingly has the stolen wheels, are not going to pull the tire off the rim themselves. You will be depending on the tire mounting person at a tire store somewhere, at some point in the future. Worth a try, the weak link is if the guy doing the tire change cares enough to do anything or will do the right thing.

Data dots looks interesting, but if it is so small that police need to use a 50x maginifying lens to read them, smacks of 'Horton hears a Hoo', will anyone even know they are there?

In the end, I would be willing to do both in combination. The paper slip would probably need to be pasted inside, it seems like it might disintegrate flying around inside for 20k miles.

I have those on my truck. Here's what they look like:

http://www.the370z.com/members/wgw37...1264977637.jpg

Up close with a macro lens:

http://www.the370z.com/members/wgw37...1265338995.jpg


WGW

Anything if it helps get your stuff back, or even prevents it being taking in the first place.

But you're right something like the label would need to be taped down, or even laminated.
Not that it's really open to the elements inside a sealed tire, so not sure how much water ever gets inside.

I guess the hope is most petty criminals are too stupid to look inside.
They just steal the wheels and either sell them, or put them on their own ride.

Then the hope is that when it comes to a tire change, I think most shops would be honest enough to at least question it, or call you or call the cops.

But what have you got to lose by trying it out.

Thank me when you get your $3000 rims back ;)

I've known people that that has worked for. I imagine 90% of the time it doesn't, but hey, it doesn't take much effort to do.

Just make sure you take them out before you sell them!

I like the micro dots, but no grease monkey at a shop is ever going to go looking for them, or even be able to read them if he finds one.
They are great if Police recover suspect stolen goods, as they will look for these and return the items to the owner.

This "wheel insert" would be more than obvious to anyone working on your wheels/tires.
And is more likely to take note, when they see a warning that says "STOLEN" on them.

Of course this could also be modified to include VIN number, or address ete etc.
Personally I would slip it in a sealed baggy or something like that, and tape it inside the rim :)

ok but what happens when you discover you bought stolen wheels??!?!?! return them to the police so now YOU are out your money???? what is the person who GETS them back going to do, refund them money you lost from the thief? that thief is loooong gone....

Agreed. It sucks to say it but if I were to ever buy stolen wheels unknowingly those suckers are staying with me unless I get compensated for the money I wasted on them. Just trying to be honest here.

Quote seems right in line with your user name lol but i agree those rims would be mine unless someone was paying me back

Very true about the microdots. When I first saw them they looked like tiny holes. It wasn't until I broke out the macro equipment that I was able to tell what they were. Most tire busters aren't going to know either.

I think your idea is pretty good. I know if I were breaking one down and saw your label, I'd certainly look at the ticket to compare the name. Sure would be a bad deal for the second owner though. Lose your wheels and face the possibility of possession of stolen property charges. Might make them think twice about one of those "too good to be true" wheel deals though.

WGW

Honestly, as much as it sucks for the new buyer, it's their problem "Buyer Beware".

If I get my frickin wheels stolen, I want them back regardless who paid good money for a stolen item LOL.

Listen I know it sucks and I wouldn't want to buy stolen wheels regardless of the price but if I'm gonna pay for something that I don't know is stolen I'm not giving them up unless I'm compensated.