Thieves’ new target: Tire rims

There’s a new fetish for thieves on Saipan and it has resulted in a series of car tire rim thefts.

The Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Bureau is currently looking into four cases where victims have reported that their car tires—complete with the rims—have been stolen.

DPS assistant chief of police and acting public information officer Simon T. Manacop said CIB is currently looking into four reported cases—three on Navy Hill and one in Chalan Kanoa.

He shared that along with the tire thefts, a couple of other gas siphoning incidences have also occurred, this time with thieves targeting sedans after previously victimizing 15-passenger vans.

Manacop shared that CIB has informed him an arrest is expected soon, but the cases are still under investigation. He added that DPS asks the public to remain vigilant, stay safe, and encourages community members to report any suspicious activity they may see, either to DPS or to NMI Crimestoppers.

Saipan Tribune was also able to speak to Navy Hill resident Mila Cultura, one of the victims of the tire thieves, and she shared that the incident has not only made their family uneasy, but has affected their neighbors as well.

She said her daughter was the one that discovered the missing tires last Sept 10 at 7:30am. Cultura said that thieves had stolen both tires and rims on the right side of the vehicle and left it propped up with hallow blocks to appear normal from one side. She shared that she had been a resident at the apartment for 21 years and this was the first time this had happened.

“It causes a lot of stress,” she said, adding that since the incident, her neighbors were also on edge checking their cars each morning. “It’s like no one is safe.”

She shared that their 2021 Toyota CHR’s two tires and rims had an estimated value of $3,000.

“It’s not only us,” she said noting that she heard a same model car in Chalan Kanoa had its tires and rims stolen on the same side of the car at around the same time and perhaps even the same day.

“Maybe it’s the same person,” she said

Cultura shared that she hopes the thieves would get caught soon and urges her fellow community members to stay safe.

“Stay vigilant, try to make your place safe, and check everything and make sure it’s safe because we may never know. Thieves also target inside the home and not just outside.”