Thieves Steal 140 Wheels Off 35 New Cars

Heritage Buick GMC in Rockwall was burglarized overnight Saturday, but it wasn't cars that were stolen -- just parts of them.

Robert Bobo, the owner of the dealership, said the Rockwall Police Department called him Sunday morning and told him that 35 of his vehicles, Yukons and pickups, were up on blocks and stripped of their 20-inch tires and wheels. The theft is estimated at $150,000.

Rockwall police said the thieves knew something about electricity because the lights were disabled on several poles at the dealership.

"I wouldn't say this was a typical theft, it was organized somehow," said Rockwall Police Sgt. Jeff Welch. "I at least think a minimum of four people were at least involved in this."

Bobo said it's not uncommon for car dealerships to occasionally be the victim of crime, but that in his experience a theft of this magnitude is not only rare, but unprecedented.

"Dealerships deal with minor incidences frequently. I've been in the car business over 20 years and I've never heard of a theft of this magnitude," said Bobo. "[The] police indicated to me that they have never had a report of a theft of this many tires/wheels at one location."

While the dealership did not have surveillance cameras at the time of the thefts, it does now.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the theft and the dealership said it would match the reward. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rockwall police.

Rockwall is approximately 20 miles northeast of Dallas.