A Waco, Texas-area Freightliner dealership lost tire/wheel assemblies off of three new trucks parked at its lot on April 18.
It was the third time in the past five months that thieves struck at the truck dealership, reports said.
Waco Freightliner said the three tire-less trucks were left on wooden blocks.
"Every time we’ve been hit, it’s been after our fleet our brand new trucks," said location general manager Cade Corley. "They want tires that have never been put in use."
According to police, the thieves cut a hole through the chain-link fence surrounding the dealership lot and likely used hand tools to remove 20 tires and wheels valued at $16,000.
In November 2011, alert employees caught thieves in the act, but they disappeared before police arrived. Then in January, thieves hit the dealership for 24 tire/wheel assemblies, valued at $18,000. Also that month, thieves struck at Rush Truck Center in Waco, taking $35,000 of tire/wheel assemblies.
Corley gave police the DOT numbers on the stolen tires, and surveillance video is being reviewed.