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From: prophet@umcp-cs.UUCP (Dennis Gibbs)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Car Theft - Part 2 (Locking Wheel Nuts)
Message-ID: <2451@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 12-Jan-85 17:56:37 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2451
Posted: Sat Jan 12 17:56:37 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 14-Jan-85 04:49:50 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 33


<>

Concerning locking wheel nuts, I have my doubts about these because of the
experiences of friends who have had them.  In one case, a friend  of  mine
had the wheels stolen from his Corvette.  He went out and  bought  locking
wheel nuts after buying a new set of wheels and tires.  A few months later
he found that all four of his tired were slashed by  thieves who were very
frustrated at not being able to steal his tires/wheels.  True, the locking
nuts did indeed keep them from stealing the tires, but he still had to end
up buying a new set of tires.

Another case is where a friend of mine had an expensive set of mag  wheels
on his old Datsun 240Z.  Someone tried to steal his wheels.   The  locking
wheel nuts, of course, kept them from actually stealing  the  wheels,  but
these thieves were somewhat tenacious, and  they  didn't  give up quickly.
They tugged and pulled so hard on the wheels that they  damaged  both  the
front and rear suspension and the owner of the car had  no  choice  but to
declare his car totaled.

My conlusion is not to use locking wheel nuts, but rather park the car  in
an area where thieves could be easily seen.  If they want  my  wheels  bad
enough, they can have them; I'll gladly pay my  insurance  company's  $100
deductable and get new ones.

                            Dennis

-- 
Call-Me:   Dennis Gibbs, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Center.
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