The Brief Philadelphia Police say up to five groups are behind hundreds of wheel and tire thefts across the city. Thieves target specific cars and neighborhoodsWhat we know:Police say there have been 268 cases of wheel thefts so far this year. Police say using wheel locks, tilt sensor alarms, or parking close to a curb can help prevent theft. "They went around the wheel locks they don’t care if you have the wheel locks, they are going to take it there’s always a way around it," said Baxter. Police say the number of wheel thefts has gone down in recent months, but they urge car owners to take extra precautions.