Police Across Michigan Battling Rash Of Wheel, Tire Theft

Brazen thieves swiped the wheels and tires from seven new Explorers and one Expedition, leaving the vehicles on landscaping bricks in the lot at Galesburg Ford near Kalamazoo. "I was very upset. You feel helpless," dealership owner Bill Dorrance said. "We’ve lost four wheels at a time before, but never on this scale." The incident illustrates what many law enforcement agencies say is an increasing problem in Michigan — wheel and tire theft. The agencies are teaming up to address the rash of thefts sweeping the state, with more than 40 dealerships hit so far this year and residents waking up to find their cars on blocks.