davidspalding

Someplace visible would be superior. You might not like the scratching in view, but an opportunistic thief will probably sigh and move on. (Hopefully, nothing more.) Clearly marked wheels would not be an easy sell, ones with a clear ID number on them, even less so.

Drivers' License ... how about the VIN somewhere? Not as easy for cops to look up, I presume.

miked8887

Take a quick look at this page:

http://www-admn.csun.edu/police/crime/vehicle.htm

A lot of these crime prevention tips are 'no duh's,' but its worth taking a look anyway. Thieves can target other things as well. My dad had his chrome tail pipe stolen from his RSX last year. I like the idea that kixo proposed, namely, to engrave some form of identification on your rims, even if they are just factory ones... also on your battery, tail pipes, and anything else that is feasible.

tony4311

Next time you get new tires write four notes.

"these wheels belong to xxxx xxxxx and should be on a Acura TSX, if they are not please call xxxxxx at 111-1111 and the police"

Ask the guys to tape them to the inside of the wheels or to let you do it when they take off the old tires.

miked8887

I don't know if you meant that literally... I wouldn't TAPE notes there. The thieves can just take it off. I would suggest the engraving. Plus, I would include the VIN and say, "these wheels belong to xxxx xxxxx and should be on a Acura TSX, with VIN number xxxxxxxx..." If the person who notices the note knows the new 'owner' of the wheels enough to realize that the name on the note isn't the 'owner's' real name, he probably also knows him enough to NOT call the police on him... its possible. The VIN is probably a better form of identification anyway.

tony4311

tape them INSIDE the wheel. They won't know they're there. The shop tech will find the note. That's the hope, that they take it to an honest shop.

Engravings can be scratched off just as easy. Do both imo.

03uc1

iTrader: (1)

i'm here in LI too (Nassau) and now i'm debating if i should go ahead and purchase VOLK wheels

PAUL5150

Engraving might work, but as noted before it can be scratched off. It also might hurt you if you want to sell the wheels at a a later time.

As another option, I'm looking into an alarm with a tilt/jacking sensor and a GPS/cel phone paging function. I work in the city and leave my car in the commuter lot, so if the alarm trips, I can be notified instantly and then I can call the cops to catch the scum in the act. In light of what happened, I'm also getting a tracker for the NSX.

miked8887

Its funny, have you ever watched Bait Car? They frequently use an Acura Integra for the bait because they were hot cars to steal. I LOVE watching the cops bust scum bags stealing our Acuras. Its a great show.

davidspalding

I think you're assuming that the thieves won't remove the tires, and just sell them as is. Reasonable, but I think professionals targeting just wheels would strip them and put on new tires. They might not even give a shinola about such marking, if their customers will NEVER see the inside of the wheel.

rex.

Next time, don't use the OEM wheel locks. I took off wheel locks for 2 of my cousin's TL's with my key, works like it should. It defeats the purpose of having them, if other Acura owners are able to use their key to remove it.

tony4311

There are different keys but only a few. The stock wheel locks saved my wheels. I was triving down the highway and the car started making serious knocking noises. Turns out 2 lugs were gone, 2 were about to come off and 1 was still tight. The tight one being the lock.

The night before theives hit a few cars in the apt. complex I lived in at the time. Seems they tried for my wheels too.

msmching

Might as well engrave own names on the wheels, RIGHT on the face side of the wheel. LoL.
bet no one will want to steal it.. @@

davidspalding

Yes. I have my wheels all engraved "Mr. I. M. Assclown" right on the rim.

2moor

dang man i am sorry. i would hunt those idiots down, dang man I cant even think of what you were going through when you saw what happened. One time i guess i left my car unlocked...and noticed a quart of gas gone...which was really unusual, when i had just filled it. I would have never expected that some people are so low... that they would steal gas. Its not a joke either or a mistake, i know what i saw.

davidspalding

A whole quart! Wow. And you could determine this ... how?

2moor

well the position i parked it that night was hidden, so it could have been easy. I thought my dad took my car to the gym the previous night, so it could have happened at the gym. I never knew ppl were desperate for gasoline. It also happened before in my honda passport, the gas fuel lid has no lock on it.
Haha so i guess ppl steal rims on the east coast, and ppl steal gas on the west coast.

j30av6

damn that sucks bro

TSX882

I feel for you man. Nassau county is where i picked up my TSX 2 days ago.

But i am really sorry for the loss. I KNEW i didnt like the area i was in, it didnt feel "good"

20-cl9-06

that's crazy

ChrisQ1980

Eeeesh, I'm on Long Island as well with the same rims (black crome) with OEM locks. I'm paranoid.

Prototype

damn man, i feel you pain

i2ide

damm... you guys are scaring me. i live maybe 10 minutes away from the americana mall... and the worse thing is that i do know a tool that can open up almost all lug nut locks.

davidspalding

Sorry, I just didn't see how you could DETERMINE that a measly quart was missing. The MID mileage measurement? -- Don't count on that, the ODO has a known variance error. If I was stealing gas, I certainly would not risk discovery for only a quart. A few gallons, sure, but not a QUART. Think about it for a while....

hkssupra91

dammm~!~ I got wheel locks for my car. Sorry to hear about it. If you're looking for rims. I have some Volk gunmetal gt-c's, set of 4 with 1 spare with almost brand new tires. 5 rims total, 4 are mint condition. Let me know if you're interested, I want to revert my car back to stock look. I'm in the NYC area.

valeratj

Locks are not a joke, law enforcement is, =

davidspalding