Imagine you step out to your car in the morning or after a day at work and find it resting on its rotors sans all four wheels. That's what happened recently to one Toyota Camry owner, who revealed that the theft cost is more than just replacing the wheels.
Car Theft-Related Crimes Cost More Than You May Believe
Earlier articles discussed how catalytic converter theft is a major problem for many car owners. Not only is it the loss of the catalytic converter, but the damage done to your car will also need fixing and cost you a lot of money.
One good example aside from your cats is your wheels.
When it comes to your wheels, you can easily spend $400 or more per tire and another $250-$300 per OEM rim for a common car theft-related crime that can set you back a few thousand dollars.
Unfortunately, many car owners do not concern themselves with protecting their wheels from theft until they become victims.
However, locking lug nuts is not as secure as marketers would have you think.
Tools of the wheel-stealing trade include:
• Locking pliers
• A wheel lock extractor
• An oversized lug socket
• A universal socket
• A portable welder
But at least they do help to either slow down the thief and increase his likelihood of being caught in the act or work as a deterrent to encourage him to pass your car for one that is easier pickings.
Wheel Theft Reveals a Common Misconception
If you follow the OP's threads about his wheel theft, you will find many disparaging remarks about how the thief could at least have left the car on blocks or some other objects so as not to damage the rotors by resting on the pavement or concrete driveway.
However, believe it or not, leaving the car resting on concrete blocks, for example, can cause more damage than leaving the car resting on its rotors.
Bricks will only cause more damage to this car. I've seen them where the rocker panels and doors are crushed because they were on bricks/crates. Rocker panels alone (when I had to have mine replaced because a shop crushed them) were almost $3,000. Then you're talking about doors crushed. You'll be f----d six ways from Sunday." ―DAPOPOBEFASTONYOAZZ (Top 1% Commenter)
I don't know why everybody is saying it would have been better if it was left on bricks...it almost never is. It's the same, if not worse. On these, I've seen where the rocker panels and doors get crushed and then that's easily about $4,000 in body damage, not even talking about your wheels and tires." ―DAPOPOBEFASTONYOAZZ (Top 1% Commenter)
The Op's Repair Bill Backs The Misconception Myth
As proof that the comments about wishing that the thief had some level of decency despite his craven behavior would only make matters worse, the OP shows his final repair bill that goes far beyond just the cost of new wheel replacement:
The Take Home Message from All of This
Aside from the recommendation that even Toyota owners need to implement some level of wheel security to help prevent theft costs that will be higher than they may initially believe, the takeaway message is that car owners need to be cognizant that using any tool other than the correct tool for lifting their vehicle and supporting it correctly on jack stands is a recipe for disaster that can and will damage their car.
In short, never use wood, concrete blocks, bricks, or even another tire to support your car when changing the wheels or repairing a flat tire.
Tell Us Your Stolen Wheels Story―If your wheels were stolen, did it damage your car beyond the cost of new tires and rims? If so, how much? Let us know in the comments section below.
If you are interested in protecting your car and its wheels from theft, here is an informative article titled "Best Car Wheel Theft Deterrent Lug Nut."
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Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
