Watch out for your X5 wheels disappearing.

Car thieves target high-end wheels

Thieves have been targeting the ultra-expensive tires and rims on BMW X5 SUVs over the past two months, part of a larger criminal trend of stealing parts from high-end cars throughout Westchester and Fairfield County, according to police.

"We've had several incidents here in town involving X5s," said Detective Harold Munrow of the auto theft division. "You've got to realize these are professional thieves and can take a set of tires off your car in less than five minutes."

On Tuesday night, Munrow discovered a 2005 BMW X5 in the Horseneck Parking Lot near the Greenwich train station with its tires gone, Munrow said. The car was found still on the tire jack and two stones, Munrow said. The owner had not set the vehicle's security alarm, Munrow noted.

Thieves target the tires and rims for sale on the black market because they can be sold for about $1,500 a piece, or $6,000 for a set of four, Munrow said. Munrow said thieves also target high-powered xenon headlight assemblies, which cost about $1,000.

Munrow said some auto body shops probably buy the stolen parts and resell them at a higher rate.

Munrow said commuters should lock their cars, and remove spare keys from their vehicles, as well as set their security alarms.

Munrow also asked bystanders to be vigilant and contact police if they notice tires being removed from vehicles.

"These can be shady repair shops or reputable dealerships that decide they are going to buy cheaper replacement parts to make more of a profit," Munrow said. The yen of thieves for xenon headlights has prompted Lexus to manufacture a new, almost theft-proof casing for the bulbs, said William Hopf, service manager for Lexus of Greenwich.

Several years ago the Lexus RX model of cars were targeted by thieves before word got out about the new security feature, Hopf said.

"The problem of theft spurred the redesign," Hopf said. "Since then our customers have had few problems."

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