Spare wheel stolen

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I would have suggested etching your post code onto the wheels but that only helps if someone is sussing out your home address and your love to steal. At least etch something on the inside of all your wheels... any symbol YOU can recognise and report to the police if a theft happens. Take pics.... if someone is caught you can have them bang to to rights for handling stolen goods... you may not get a conviction but you will get your stuff back.
Maybe something like... 181265/WN4/JC.... a favourite date of birth, first part of your post code and your initials?
'ALL PARTS SECURITY MARKED' may just put a thief off... every deterent, stop lock, alarm means it takes longer to steal... but, at the end of the day... if they want it bad enough they will get it.
Try speaking with your local police... they can offer advice, (unless BROWN wants them to pester speeders) make sure you report all thefts! They often turn up stuff that is obviously stolen but people haven't reported it.
I had a pair of side indicator covers stolen once and when I told my local cops who told me a guy had been arrested nicking from cars and they had my stuff.
Just do everything you can...if you sell the vehicle...pass the details on to the buyer.
 
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Get a heavy duty clasp (like the type you put on your shed) drill a hole in it big enough to let it slide over the stud from the wheel carrier. Then bolt it on, so its holding the clasp in place, modify clasp so you can then shut it over the bolt and put a big padlock on it - no access to nut! Thats method one.

Bolt wheel on, then get a metal fabricaters to make you a big round piece of plate with one hole in it and two lugs which fit behind the spokes of the wheel, they lock into place then a big padlock goes through the hole in the plate and round the spoke of the wheel, if the spoke is too big use a small piece of hardened steel chain.

Then put a tyre cover over the lot to cover it up also hides whats under it.
 
Doesn't work on a defender wheel carrier, not the ones I have anyway because all I have is 3 long studs - nothing to chain to.
 
lightning said:
It was on the back. it always looked vulnerable on there, just 3 bolts and somebody has £300 worth of wheel and tyre.
I guess I am lucky really, if the thieves were that close to my Defender, that they only took the spare wheel.
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what they were doin round these parts were blaggin all the alloy spare wheels and scrapping them at they're peak it was £8.00 a wheel
 
Good heavens...wheel stealing equipment available off the shelf from Halfords. I don't believe it.
I'm going to put a lock & chain round one of the wheel spokes and then it can go through the carrier behind...it's the alloy wheel so has a metal carrier with the 3 bolts on that.
The lock & (plastic sheathed) chain are from when I had a motorbike. It cost over £100. Bolt cutters and disc cutters won't touch it, and freezer spray won't work on it either. They would need a welding torch to get it off. Mind you they've probably got one of those too.
 
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lightning said:
It was on the back. it always looked vulnerable on there, just 3 bolts and somebody has £300 worth of wheel and tyre.
I guess I am lucky really, if the thieves were that close to my Defender, that they only took the spare wheel.
Click to expand...
Do all you can to ensure its not part one of 5!&maybe the landy to suit later? ...F...ing pikeies I expect[ & they are above the law unfortunately]:mad:
 
lightning said:
Good heavens...wheel stealing equipment available off the shelf from Halfords. I don't believe it.
I'm going to put a lock & chain round one of the wheel spokes and then it can go through the carrier behind...it's the alloy wheel so has a metal carrier with the 3 bolts on that.
The lock & (plastic sheathed) chain are from when I had a motorbike. It cost over £100. Bolt cutters and disc cutters won't touch it, and freezer spray won't work on it either. They would need a welding torch to get it off. Mind you they've probably got one of those too.
Click to expand...

A few years ago my uncle devised a lock for his caravan which hooked and locked both of its twin axles to the floor and an hitchlock bolted to the floor.

Needless to say they wanted it bad enough so they brought their own freshley borrowed oxy/acetalene and got it all free.

My 90 was originaly a pick up, i have put a back on it now, but plan to keep the spare wheel bracket behind the front seats so its locked away inside.

Still needs a lock on it tho cos the thieving GT's will just open the back door for it.
 
My spare was also stolen this weekend. I was just wondering what you did to prevent it happening again? I can't really carry it inside as I need the space.

Thanks.
 
I have not fitted another wheel at the moment. I took the carrier off and just left it without one.
I know it's not ideal but I can't think of a way to secure it. They got the locking nuts off no problem at all (and stole those too).

People have suggested putting an old wheel on as the spare, with a cover. I was going to buy a new wheel and then put a heavy plastic coated lock and chain round the wheel and carrier. (motorcycle lock) Bolt cutters won't remove the good ones.
 
discomani, you got any pictures of your security measure, could be useful. Now getting ready to put my wheel carrier on the back and spare wheel. Been driving about with it in the back, it takes up most of my free room!
 
Get two extra studs, measure the distance between the two unused wheel holes, weld the studs to a piece of 1/2" bar so they fit the unused holes, paint or galvanise. The sturdier you make this the better.
Once the wheel is mounted normally mark the two unused wheel holes on the mounting plate.
Take the wheel off ond drill through the mounting plate and door etc. with the correct size clearance holes to fit your new locking bar studs. Tidy up any sharp edges and get some paint on them.
Mount the wheel normally then put the modified studs through from the outside and bolt them from the inside with nyloc nuts and large 50mm diameter washers.
The only way the wheel is coming off is if they get into the vehicle or rip the door off.
It may mean cutting access holes in your rear panel but its much cheaper than replacing wheels and tyres.
 
Then why not just undo the three bolts holding the back door and and take the whole thing! - I bet a decent dack door will fetch a lot on ebay!

Other option is to remove the carrying bracket, and drill a hole through one of the bars to put a padlock through!
 
jamescronin said:
Then why not just undo the three bolts holding the back door and and take the whole thing! - I bet a decent dack door will fetch a lot on ebay!

Other option is to remove the carrying bracket, and drill a hole through one of the bars to put a padlock through!
Click to expand...
So how does the padlock stop them taking the door off? A padlock is not the strongest of deterrents - a pry bar through the hasp and its toast. Also the drilled stud would be a weak point itself. Easily cut through with a junior hacksaw and a decent blade.

They could take the whole car - you could weld the wheels on and they'd still have them.
If they're going to take the door then you're fooked anyhow. Even keeping the wheel inside the motor would be pointless. The idea is to stop the nasty opportunist pikey kids from making beer money. It's not easy to carry a door with a bloody great wheel attached. Plus my alarm would be sounding it bollocks off with the door missing.

And I'd be hot on their heels with the Rotty and my shotgun.
 
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That's the main reason I have a standard steal wheel on the back. The padlock just adds another level of protection, to stop the unprepaired kid who thinks it looks an easy target.

They had the tow bar off the back before Christmas, then used it to smash the drivers door window in but nicked nothing at all (apart from the tow bar)

pain in the arse getting the snow out mind you.

Have it parked right outside the bedroom window now, and an asortment of weapons awaiting there return along with three pairs of huge cable ties looped together.

They tried to nick a load of aluminum out the lockup as I was taking it off the roof, and when I asked them what the hell they were doing I got the reply "oh we thought it was scrap and you did not want it" shame I was on the roof at the time and they leged it before I got off or one of those poles would have come in nicely :)
 
if you have a mantec wheel carrier, you can get a chain (I have used: motor bike one, from halfords) and put it through the carrier end and the spare wheel. So again, they would have to steal the door, but the position of the nuts etc when its in the closed position makes it rather hard for them to get off.

Then again, the mantec carrier is only held on by two large bolts at the hinge part. So they could steal the carrier and wheel by undoing two bolts lol.

Update: what kinda wheel cover is best? you can get plastic and metal case ones, and cheaper water proof ones that strap around the wheel.
 
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