Thieves drill through hoods to disable car alarms

PORTLAND, Ore. - Thieves have found a new way to avoid car alarms going off while they're trying to do their work - they simply drill right through the hood, disarm the alarm and then take what they are after, which has proved so far to be expensive wheels.

Close up, the metal swirls almost look like artwork, but step back and you realize the swirls are part of a hole in the hood of Bill Hewes' Honda Accord.

"I really didn't have a reaction," Hewes said.  "It was more like 'holy cow! this happened?'"

Tuesday morning, Hewes walked outside to find his car up on blocks.  The wheels and tires had been stolen, even though he had wheel locks on them.

The thieves are experienced.  They apparently knew the exact spot to cut into his car's hood to reach the battery terminals and disarm the car alarm.

"The people across the street didn't hear anything," Hewes said.  "No one heard anything."

According to police, this is a relatively new twist by car thieves.  Roy Nelson with Les Schwab in Lake Grove knows of three other cars targeted on Portland's west side - Hondas and Acuras that were all hit with the same tactics.

The thieves may be using a battery powered version of a sheet metal cutting tool to do the work.  One was found in a truck stolen from a Les Schwab lot, spotted by workers minutes after thieves had made off with the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Hewes' replacement wheels have upgraded locks and insurance will pay the bill.

"We're without the car for a week to get it fixed and you know get the new wheels," he said.  "We'll be paid back, but you know it doesn't help anybody's insurance with this type of stuff happening."

Tips

• If you are investing in a nice set of wheels, make sure you have an alarm with battery backup.  
• Get wheel locks that have unique keys and that have a design that makes it difficult to remove them with anything but a special key.