Thieves target tires, rims near UCF campus, deputies say

Investigation started at Hunters Reserve Apartments

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is warning people about thieves who are targeting tires and rims near the University of Central Florida campus.

A victim told News 6 on Tuesday that he woke up to find his car sitting on bricks. Deputies said he is not the only victim, adding that they are investigating six cases.

UCF sophomore Jason Rosenbaum said when he came outside at the Riverwind Apartments, deputies were surrounding his vehicle.

"We are just now entering kind of the real world and now are having to deal with something like this," Rosenbaum said.

Seminole County deputies said their investigation started a few days earlier, up the street at the Hunters Reserve Apartments.

Investigators said vehicle owners there reported the same thing: their tires and rims stolen.

Surveillance video was able to capture an image of a vehicle detectives think might be the suspect's. The vehicle is described as a black Saturn Vue with gray trimming on the bottom.

Rosenbaum said his repairs are estimated at about $3,000.

"Now I don't have a car to drive around," Rosenbaum said. "I hope that you can just realize what you are doing and what it's doing to the people you’re committing this crime against and realize how distraught you can like, leave somebody."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6650 or Crime Line at 800-423-TIPS.
 
Crime Line tips remain anonymous and could lead to a $1,000 reward.


About the Author:

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

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