Strange things have become evident in the fancy Los Angeles districts: one walks out to find cars inexplicably tilted at odd angles and perched precariously on concrete blocks, with their tires missing. Such alarmingly well-etched-out patterns of destruction spread rampantly through neighborhoods such as Beverly Grove and the Fairfax District, where bandits have carried out their sabotage almost coldly.
Why are thieves stealing only two wheels?
Instead of stealing all four wheels, as has been the traditional way, tire thieves in Los Angeles are following a newly schemed rationale that is a public nuisance: take only two wheels off the driver’s side. The reason for this pattern of theft is far from arbitrary; in fact, the strategy takes into account maximizing their profit while minimizing exposure toward law enforcement.
This strategic two-wheel-picking for theft has both practical and legal reasoning. Compared to stealing four wheels, it allows thieves to spend much less time at any selected vehicle, hitting multiple targets in one night. Security footage shows that after about seven to eight minutes of negotiation, the thieves were ready to disappear with two wheels, while ten to fifteen minutes are required for a full set.
The other dimension of the thefts may have something to do with the theoretical consideration of staying shy of theft thresholds. In California, to be considered felony theft, the goods stolen must be valued at an amount equal to or greater than $950. Two wheels with tires from a lot of vehicles may just skim under this price, thus giving them the possibility of lower charges in case they are apprehended.
The nature of the commission indicates organized crime. Victims have found that the same cinder blocks are used by the thieves to prop the targeted vehicles, suggesting one group or coordinated groups are responsible for multiple offenses.
The crime wave in Beverly Grove
The latest wave began in late July 2025, with an estimated eleven-plus vehicles targeted over a single weekend in Beverly Grove and Hollywood. There seem to be common modus operandi under which, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., the thieves would show up in a white Chevrolet 3500 van, park adjacent to the vehicles out of the line of view for any witnesses, and quickly remove the wheels from the driver’s side.
Jason, a recent victim who suffered the theft of a truck on Edinburgh Avenue, discovered the theft on the Sunday morning after parking the vehicle the Saturday night before. Security cameras recorded the entire operation, showing how a van was used as a shield while the thieves worked. Within hours of posting about his experience to the Neighbors app, Jason had connected to eleven other victims within the same area.
The spree is not limited to a single neighborhood: Other reports of similar thefts have arisen in Hollywood, where Jonathan Gonzalez found his car stripped on Sunday morning near Gower and Hollywood Boulevard. All victims saw their vehicles resting on the same cinder blocks and followed the same pattern as others in their removal.
The economics behind the theft of wheels
Tire and wheel theft is rapidly enhancing its lure for criminals, thanks to the high resale value and hardly any risk. A complete set of aftermarket wheels from $800-$4,000 depending on the make and model. The resale value of even individual tires on the gray market can go along the lines of $25-$250 each, with a few premium ones fetching greater prices.
Another aspect that protects these wheels from suspicion is absence of a serial number. Every other vital part of a vehicle contains some form of identification. The thieves tap on this anonymity to dispossess the stolen wheels with extreme ease across various selling platforms, swap meets, or dubious tire shops.
The speed with which it transpires is perhaps the worst aspect. With proper equipment, professional thieves may take as little as 31 seconds per wheel to remove it. Using battery power for impact wrenches and hydraulic jacks, the efficient teams can have one vehicle stripped off several wheels, if not all of them, in less than 2 minutes.
Financial impact on victims
Tire theft in Los Angeles is an economic burden on the victims that extends much more than replacement expenses. With tire theft usually covered under comprehensive insurance, the burden of paying a deductible always falls on the shoulders of the victims. If, on top of needing to replace stolen tires, they had only maintained a minimum state-required coverage, they could expect an unfavorable reimbursement.
After the replacement costs, there are many possible costs incurred by the victim. Damages to the suspension arise after the vehicle has been improperly dropped during the theft and require expensive repairs. Many victims realize that they would have to arrange tow services just to add on to their frustration.
If the crime involved comprehensive insurance coverage, then premiums could rise. Ever since, such scenarios don’t attract premium hikes as do at-fault accidents, but the criminality concern could linger with the insurance companies hired in areas with higher crime levels.
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