Thieves target wheels

The wheels are literally coming off in Plattekloof Glen and Welgelegen, with a security firm warning vehicle owners to lock up their cars.

On Facebook, the District Watch Group posted a series of incidents of wheel thefts between Thursday June 30 and Saturday August 6.

District Watch operations manager Mark Horstman said there had been a spike in wheel thefts at night. He urged car owners to use their garages and arm their home alarms.

“It stays the owners responsibility,” said Mr Horstman.

The latest incident was on Saturday August 6, at about 5.30am, when a Opel Corsa was targeted in Hannes Louw Drive, Panorama.

On Tuesday August 2 another car in Armenia Crescent, Plattekloof Glen, was also targeted.

In July, five wheel thefts were recorded. On Sunday July 24, Officer PJ Opperman from District Watch found a metallic blue Hyundai I20 balancing on a tyre outside a house in Tugela Circle, in Plattekloof Glen.

On Friday July 15, District Watch posted pictures of three cars hit on different dates that month in Kehrwieder Crescent, General Piet Cronje Road and Akademie Road, in Welgelegen.

While doing routine patrols on Tuesday July 12, Officer Opperman found another car on bricks in Plattekloof Road, Monte Vista.

On Thursday June 30, a white Polo was found standing on bricks in Porterville Crescent, Welgelegen.

Parow police spokesman Captain Kevin Williams said only one case of wheel theft, two weeks ago in Welgelegen, had been reported at the station. He urged car owners to park in garages or fit wheel-lock nuts.