Police investigating string of car tire thefts in Beverly Grove

BEVERLY GROVE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police are investigating a string of tire thefts in Beverly Grove that has forced some victims to take extra precaution when parking their cars at night.

The most recent incident happened over the weekend.

The owner of a black pickup truck who did not wish to be identified said he lives on Hayworth Avenue but on Saturday night, he parked his truck on Edinburgh Avenue.

When he walked back to his vehicle the next day, he noticed two tires were missing.

"I was just really upset," he said. "I just purchased the vehicle, so I had it only a few months. To find that, it's just heartbreaking."

The victim filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department and said a detective told him they were investigating several tire theft cases.

Police could not confirm the number of cases, but said all the incidents have happened in the early morning hours between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Meantime, the pickup truck owner has been connecting with people online through the Neighbors app and said there's a handful of people in the area with similar experiences. Ring camera videos show a white van driving through the neighborhood, pulling up next to parked cars.

"About 12 other victims came to light about their vehicles also with the same style cinder block left under their cars," he said.

The LAPD Wilshire Station shared several tips on how to stay safe on its Instagram page, which include investing in locking lug nuts and installing an alarm system with tilt or motion sensors.

"This is an area where you're supposed to be able to walk around and have fun," said resident Sajada Lee. "This is supposed to be like a safe area. For people to just come in like that, it's just unnerving."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.