Bobbi-Joe Nicholson says the sophistication level of the tire theft is almost comical and she wants to remain positive throughout this experience.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Bobbi-Joe Nicholson was sitting in her West End home this morning when her son left to catch the bus for school.

But he came inside almost immediately after leaving, to let his mother know the tires from her truck had been stolen.

Nicholson was shocked, saying in the two years her family has lived in their Battle Street home nothing like this has happened before.

"This is definitely a first," Nicholson says.

Her home and a few of her neighbour's homes had been broken into about six weeks ago, Nicholson says, so she knew it was time to get a security system.

"We didn't want to," Nicholson says. "This is a great part of the city."

She hopes outdoor surveillance cameras will help deter any future criminal activity in the area.

The thief, or thieves, used cinder blocks to hold the vehicle up after taking the tires. Nicholson says each chrome rim is worth about $2,000.

"Kamloops has got a reputation for being a great city. That's why we moved here," Nicholson said. "But I still love it."

Nicholson says this hasn't prompted her or her family to consider moving.

A neighbour who has lived down the street since 1989 says he has never seen any crime like this in the area.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

Kamloops RCMP confirms they're investigating the incident.

"We received a report on Battle Street of four tires being taken off a truck," Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says.

Nicholson says a resident in Knutsford also had the tires taken off of their vehicle as well.

Shelkie says to prevent tire theft, vehicles should be parked in a garage if you have one. If you don't, she recommends several tips to prevent your tires from being stolen:

• Get a car alarm that includes sensors that attach to the wheels.
• Park in an area with a lot of traffic when out in public. The more car and foot traffic going by where you park, the less likely thieves want to risk detection by stealing wheels or tires.
• Park in view of surveillance cameras where possible.
• Turn your wheels when parking. this makes the wheels harder to remove because they get stuck in the wheel well.
• Use wheel locks on each wheel, including your spare. The locks fit on each wheel and make the lug nuts extremely difficult to remove without a key.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

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