Four Wheels Stolen From New Jeep in East End

This story was updated at 3:44 p.m on 11.27.12.

Mike, an East End resident for the past eight years, woke up Monday morning to find the wheels on his brand new jeep were gone.  

The suspects boldly jacked up his 2013 Grand Cherokee onto bricks and blocks that they took from his and a neighbor’s yard, removed the lug nuts and stole the brand new tires and rims while he vehicle was parked outside his home on East Olive Street.

“This is what’s going on in Long Beach now,” said Mike, who asked that his last name not be used for this story. “ … This was done in the middle of the night, and no one heard a thing.”

Mike’s previous vehicle, a 2005 Grand Cherokee, was totaled during Hurricane Sandy, and he purchased his new jeep on Nov. 9. He filed a report on the stolen wheels with the Long Beach Police Department and he looks to replace them with added security at his home. He’s concerned that this bold move may turn into a spree in the storm-ravaged city.

“The occurrence could become much more common in Long Beach since many people will be getting new cars,” Mike said.

LBPD spokesman Sgt. Eric Cregeen told Patch called Mike's case an isolated incident. "We haven't had any thefts of tires with the exception of that incident," he said.