Two men broke into a Louisiana car dealership early Saturday morning, stealing 124 tires and rims from 31 cars before carting them away in a U-Haul, Slidell police said at a news conference Wednesday.
“These were no amateurs,” Slidell police Chief Randy Fandal said at the news conference. “We won’t put up with it here.”
Fandal said the value of the stolen tires and rims taken from Matt Bowers Chevrolet in Slidell was more than $120,000. He confirmed the number of tires at 124, down from previous reports that said between 134 and 150 tires were taken.
Fandal said during the news conference, which was streamed live on Facebook, that the tires were taken from Chevrolet Tahoes, Malibus and SUVs.
Matt Bowers, the owner of the dealership, said the thieves entered the premises and cut a lock with bolt cutters, WDSU reported. Fandal said the men, described as two black males, disabled surveillance cameras and lights in the parking lot.
The cars were left on wooden blocks with tire lug nuts on the ground, WWL reported.
The U-Haul used appeared to be an EL-17 foot truck, WDSU reported.
Bowers is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves.
"We're not gonna stop pursuing these individuals until I'm taking a selfie in front of them as they're making their perp walk," Bowers said at Wednesday's news conference. "I'll put it on Twitter when it's done."
“We will find you. You will be brought back here,” Fandal said. “Somebody out there has information. Somebody out there could use $25,000.
“Come see us.”
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