So a guy shows up to work at the Chevy & Buick dealer in the morning and finds...

[Pool Runner]

Yeah oem wheels are big business on Craig's and Ebay. It sucks because you used to be able to score a deal on a full set of OEM take-offs, like $300-$500 for a full set of alloys and tires with only 100-200 miles on them.

Then this kind of stuff went crazy and now people want like $1000 for a set of middle of the road tires and somewhat ugly stock wheels.

[Robski92]

Yeah these guys are probably gonna make some decent coin once they hustle the rimz.

[turtledub]

This was the first thing that came to mind.

[justanotherusername]

They are 6-lug wheels - I wonder what else they fit? 6x132 bolt pattern

I didn't realize they were a 6 lug pattern that's not common. Makes this even more strange. Maybe they didn't realize it either and now they're sitting back realizing they ****ed up!

[Iroczgirl]

I didn't realize they were a 6 lug pattern that's not common. Makes this even more strange. Maybe they didn't realize it either and now they're sitting back realizing they ****ed up!

I can imagine all they wanted them for was scrap value. Or perhaps it was a different dealership who stole them and is now offering them at dealer cost to the victim.

[rimtrim]

They're not going to scrap the wheels. The "chrome clad" wheels used on a lot of high-end American trucks are worth a lot, because they're very expensive to buy from the dealer, and they can't be repaired or refinished if the chrome face is curbed. It's nothing but a plastic wheel cover, but it's permanently glued to the wheel, so the entire wheel has to be replaced. These wheels will probably end up on ebay and sell for a few hundred each.

-Andrew L

[TM87]

This is 3-4 people job, 2 trucks and one aircompressor. Even if this retail for wheel and tire is $500ea, they will sell em for $300 max. CL and EBay is off limits for next year.
This went to a tire shop most likely. Maybe an inside job from the dealer if the suvs weren't selling. Smells like insurance scam.

[jettagli1991]

The most involved theft I saw working at a dealership was 3 front bumpers stolen off new Super Duty trucks. That must have taken some time. They were just the black painted work truck bumpers too.

[Jerico007]

Yeah these guys are probably gonna make some decent coin once they hustle the rimz.

Geeze, think about how many guys it took to get those gone....those wheels aren't lite.

[baller9409]

The most involved theft I saw working at a dealership was 3 front bumpers stolen off new Super Duty trucks. That must have taken some time. They were just the black painted work truck bumpers too.

i have an 04, but all it takes is 4 bolts and the front bumpers basically off. did they change it that much?

[..Derek..]

I bet that dealership is having a hard time making payments to their flooring company and this is a quick way to make a buck from their insurance company.

[JettaGT8V80]

doubt an air compressor was used too loud prob just those handheld craftsmen impacts mine was $100 with two batteries and a charger without the battery its $60 so for $160 you get 2 impacts

and yeah tires were sold to tire places and the wheels will prob be sold back to the dealership by way of the place that bought them

[J2G]

I agree with Sporin and Derek. Considering the rarity of these wheels and the magnitude of the job, sounds more like an insurance scam by the dealership.

But even then, you'd still need a team of people there who'd all benefit from this. 72 wheels takes a LOT of space.

[firstorbit84]

Stanced!

Or How to make an Enclave lay frame.

No seriously, how'd they get the jacks out from under the cars?

[..Derek..]

Stanced!

Or How to make an Enclave lay frame.

No seriously, how'd they get the jacks out from under the cars?

Fork lift.. the same fork lift used to palletize the wheels and move them to the owners warehouse down the street. The same one they will use after insurance company pays and they bring them back to reinstall.

[bic at mit]

Fork lift.. the same fork lift used to palletize the wheels and move them to the owners warehouse down the street. The same one they will use after insurance company pays and they bring them back to reinstall.

[firstorbit84]

Fork lift.. the same fork lift used to palletize the wheels and move them to the owners warehouse down the street. The same one they will use after insurance company pays and they bring them back to reinstall.

From the picture it doesn't look like they had room to get a forklift in between all of those cars

[n00bpwnr]

the dealership I sell for just had four Venzas with all the wheels and tires stolen this week. We're small town dealership with no prior need for security cameras but they're being installed quickly. We've had stolen tailgates and wheels and tires off of F 150 as well. OEM parts are expensive.

[mx5er]

The only other car I know with 6 lug wheels are the Kia/Hyundai minivan twins. But I don't know the exact bolt pattern. And oh yeah, the first gen. Cadillac CTS-V.

Even if the all three share the same bolt pattern, it's not like you'll see the Kia/Hyundai minivans and CTS-V on every other shopping mall parking lot.

Maybe there's enough owners of older Chevy Traverse out there who wants new rimz.

[Wanganrunner]

Why do they use such a goofball bolt pattern?

All wheels should be 4/5/6-114.3

[Egz]

Fork lift.. the same fork lift used to palletize the wheels and move them to the owners warehouse down the street. The same one they will use after insurance company pays and they bring them back to reinstall.

Wasn't that a bit from the movie "Blue Streak"?

[FujiTekniques]

the dealership I sell for just had four Venzas with all the wheels and tires stolen this week. We're small town dealership with no prior need for security cameras but they're being installed quickly. We've had stolen tailgates and wheels and tires off of F 150 as well. OEM parts are expensive.

My neighbor's Venza had its rims jacked a few days before Christmas last year. Nice, safe neighborhood. Now I see a guy driving a mint-green Avalon with the same wheels on it, and given his "baller" status, I'm guessing the smart money is on him owning some very hot wheels.

[clutchrider]

So every dealership I have ever driven by at night is lit up like a Christmas tree and on main roads. So nobody noticed or saw either a large truck or several cars parked in a lot with people scrambling around making all kinds of noise with impact guns, wrenches, etc.

I guess I just live in a more populated area because that would never happen to the dealers near me. Between surveillance (which can be live feed to someone watching a screen), locked entry gates (typically alarmed as well), police patrol; they wouldn't get far.

Also this brings up my other point on the accountability of scrap yards. If some guy who is not a contractor or some other worker (plumber, HVAC, etc.) shows up at a yard with a load of copper or some other high commodity item, wouldn't that raise suspicion. Of course they melt it down or shred it up and all evidence is gone. Kinda sucks that they just take whatever from whoever at the scrap yards without any checks and balances in place.

[Ross1013]

I wonder if these wheel/tire sets are heading overseas?

[firstorbit84]

I wonder if these wheel/tire sets are heading overseas?

Doubtful, transportation costs would be too high. And risk of getting caught would increase substantially

[Southern Jetta]

Googling it shows this is happening A LOT and this wasn't the only dealership hit in Northern Michigan over a short time period.

Video:

[.chap-e]

Maybe they were jus trying to rid the world from having to suffer through driving one of these things. I'd say this was a humanitarian effort if anything.

[Haubbs]

Does the 6 lug pattern fit a Silverado?

I could imagine those 19s look pretty good on one

[robr2]

I would imagine the scrap value for the wheels alone must make them somewhat valuable?

Aluminum wheels scrap at about 65-90 cents a pound based on an internet search. Let's go high side at 90 cents x assume 50 lbs for the wheel so each would scrap for $45. Times 72 wheels and it's $3375.

[deucestudios]

Does the 6 lug pattern fit a Silverado?

Nah, Chevy 6 lug is 6x5.5" / 6x139.7

They are 6-lug wheels - I wonder what else they fit? 6x132 bolt pattern

http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/hot-r...LAVE+CX%2C+CXL

hahahahahaha

That usually turns up a ton of results. Looks like the only other option is Saturn Outlook

[92skirmishgti]

Prank by NASCAR pit crews?

[ValveCoverGasket]

We've had stolen tailgates and wheels and tires off of F 150 as well. OEM parts are expensive.

its because that stuff is easy to scrap. and tailgaits are loaded with metal, easy to stack and even easier to remove.

im sure thats whats happening to these wheels as well. sell the tires scrap the wheels, easy money. metal recycling places rarely ask questions.

[TisforTurbo]

Prank by NASCAR pit crews?

I lol'ed

[MightyDSM]

Insurance fraud...

[Remedy]

Back in the days, this used to be common with Grand Nationals and other GM vehicles like SeVille's DeVille's.

FWIW