Hi all,
In my area some disturbing reports have been circulating about the Fit, and specificity the Fit Sport wheels, being targeted by thieves.

Any one else seeing this?

Wheel locks - maybe a good idea?



Thieves target Honda Fit wheels in New Haven

Thieves Stealing Wheels Off Honda Fits in New Haven | NBC Connecticut

 

This has been going on for years.

Any new OEM 4x100 Honda wheel is an attractive target for thieves, there's a huge market for them and you're almost guaranteed to sell them or some may just want them for their own older Civic or Integra.

Locks are a good idea but only one line of defense. If a thief wants your wheels he will get them, locks or not.

 

Locking lugs are a waste of money. Get a good quality car alarm and you won't have a problem.

 

This happened to me already about a year and a half ago. My front passenger side rim was stolen. It sucks, there's no doubt about it and sometimes nothing you can do.

Locking nuts are a deterrent sure, but there's no guarantees they won't get the rims.

 

Thanks for the messages, all.

I do know that nice wheels get stolen sometimes. I had friends calling concerned about my '13 Fit - I guess it looked like the Fit in particular was being targeted. Maybe it's just a coincidence that caught our local media's attention.

How does a 'good quality car alarm" help? Mine has just the OEM horn blaster.

 

Had two stolen from my driveway 3 months after I purchased our new 2012 Fit Sport. Got replacements and locks. Still sore about it.

 

It's gotta be a heart breaker to have some creep make off with your wheels! I doubt that insurance would cover any of this type of loss.

 

I had a $500 deductible for comprehensive and since it was only one rim and tire, it didn't equal more than $500 so I was just out the rim/tire. Sucks.

 

I've parked my '09 Sport on the streets of Manhattan for over five years now with (two sets of) wheel locks. So far, I've not had a problem. I can't say for certain, but this at least suggests that the locks are making a difference.

 

THAT seems like a good idea Eugene, and rather cheap insurance! Maybe replace all four lugs with locking ones?

 

Like Eugene, I've been parking in Manhattan (Upper West Side) for seven months (I bought my 2010 Fit in December). No issues so far. I have two locks on each wheel.

 

There are so many people in manhattan and at all times of the night pretty much. Harder to steal rims with people constantly buzzing around.

It's more prone to happen in suburbs where its quieter and in darker areas in the middle of the night.

In Mt Vernon where I previously lived and where my rim was taken, you had everyone coming from Yonkers, Bronx, and Mt Vernon itself. It was just a bad area. Its more about where you live and if you park on the street, than anything else really.

Although this seems like a good idea, its not as practical as it takes much more time to get the lugs off either for yourself or even a mechanic. Two locking lugs per wheel I would say is optimal. Cause then the thief goes "oh they have a locking lug no problem, oh no they actually have TWO per wheel!" "F it we're moving on" LOL.

 

Not many cars use 4x100 BC wheels so market is pretty much other FITs.
As for locks if you get real locks and not just special lub bolt patterns they are effective. Most thieves need to get in and out quickly and locks take too long to overcome. And tes proxity alarms are best except if you live in a heighborhood with lots of dogs or just one.
you can also decorate them permanently. outside of course to make them easy to spot by police or passerbys.

 

Park it in a safe place - I guess that's the best advice of all. Even with wheel locks I'd hate to have some creep jacking up my FIT and hacking away at the locking lugs - even if they did save the wheels.

 

What?

All older Honda compacts and Integras use 4x100. Miatas and other Mazdas, Mini Coopers, older Toyotas, even some Kia and Hyundai. There's a huge market of younger folks to sell these wheels to. I see older Civics on Fit wheels all the time out here.

It's not like Ford compact wheels with like 4x108 that nobody else uses.

 

Sorry to hear that... Loosers.

 

Fit sport rims are not that attractive at all. I could understand if we're talking about some aftermarket rims but stock?...eww.

 

there are many threads on this already.


wheel locks can be breached pretty easily. your best bet is to park it inside your personal garage... otherwise install a tilt sensor on an aftermarket alarm.