“This is an ongoing issue”: Thieves Steal All Tires off Multiple Cars in South Philly

Source: Michael Vi / Getty

Police are reporting that multiple cars have had their wheels stolen in the month of August alone.

The most recent incident was Tuesday (Aug. 20) around 7:30 p.m. when police responded to a call from a women who returned to her tireless that had been parked near 1 Jackson Street.

Dana Howlett told NBC 10 that she was with her children when they collectively found the car was missing its rims and tires. When authorities arrived, Howlett told them that she was returning to her car after being parked since Sunday night, to find all four rims and tires had been stolen. Howlett was still able to maintain reliable transportation but is calling for action in the area.

“This is not the first time this has happened. This is an ongoing issue and it’s getting ridiculous.” Howlett explained.” I think they need to put cameras around here. We all live so close but yet it’s all happening under our noses,”

Young man in unscrewing lug nuts on car wheel in process of new tire replacement,using wrench while changing flat tire on the road.

Source: Kateryna Mukhina / Getty

When police began their investigation, they discovered that there are no surveillance cameras in the area, according to officials. Authorities also uncovered that the estimated value of the theft is $7,000.

“Thankfully, I will still have a car to drive. It’s just very disheartening that this is happening to working parents and now we’re stuck,” Howlett said.

Howlett revealed that her neighbors signed a petition that obtained over 1,500 signatures calling for surveillance cameras to be installed in the area. The petition was sent to Mark Squilla, City Council member, but nothing has been resolved at the moment. Squilla wrote a statement to NBC10:

“We turned the petition over to ILMC and PennDOT who have been looking at how to best address this request. We will continue to work with them and the Police on the wheel thefts and other quality of life concerns in the area,” Squilla said in a statement to NBC10.

Police said several other cars had their tires stolen at five locations throughout South Philadelphia in the month of August, 2024, so far:

200 block of Wolf Street
700 block of South Front Street
900 block of South Front Street
2200 block of South Front Street
800 block of South Water Street

“It’s been ongoing all summer. I would say the last three weeks is when it’s really started to pick up because it’s two cars each time and it’s like a pattern. It’s all Explorers, all four tires gone every single time,” Howlett said.