If you live in the Ellesmere Port area of Cheshire, you might have noticed something strange going on recently. Hopefully you and your girlfriends won't have experienced it, but there has been a massive outbreak of spare wheel thefts in the past few months.
It's getting to the point where it's almost an epidemic, but something is finally being done to try and halt the number of car insurance claims resulting from the thefts.
The police have teamed up with local garages to offer motorists cheap locking nuts to make their spare wheels more secure and to stop them getting into the hands of specialist crooks. Particularly vulnerable, and targeted in huge numbers in the area, are Vauxhall Zafiras, Citroen Picassos and Citroen Xsaras.
Promoting the use of the security nuts, Detective Sergeant Simon Newell told the press, "At the end of the day, they can help save the cost of a new tyre, a new wheel, the repair of any damage and any excess charges which motor insurance companies may charge if the spare wheel is stolen.
"The locking nuts which can be purchased are an excellent precautionary measure."
A spokesperson from CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, the woman car insurance experts, commented, "Any extra measures you can take to ensure the safety of your car are well worth the investment, especially if it can help to keep you cheap car insurance premium at a low price.