DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. — A woman who just recently moved to Prince George’s County is sounding the alarm about car wheels being stolen in her neighborhood.
Dasia Holmes took steps to secure her car.
“I have two tire locks, an AirTag, a wheel lock,” Holmes told WUSA9.
Despite all the steps she took, thieves got away with the wheels of her car. She warned her neighbors at the Lerner Surrey Square apartments in District Heights.
“May 2022, that was over there,” neighbor Gavata Smith said. She shared pictures and emails detailing the times when other wheels were stolen back two years ago.
Holmes quickly learned from others on Nextdoor that people were already aware because it’s happened before.
“Oh God, here we go again,” Smith said when she realized this was happening again.
This conversation started after Holmes had a stranger knock on her door in June.
“He said do you have a- this type of car? And I said no, that’s not my car. So, when I came outside, I noticed it is my car,” Holmes said.
“Another lady’s tires were missing, and she had a white Honda,” Holmes said.
Then Holmes said another hit two weeks later.
“It’s been disturbing my peace a little bit,” Holmes said.
One thing that WUSA9 heard from Holmes and others is concerns about security within the complex. She said the gates have been broken ever since she moved in in January and this could make it easier for the people responsible.
“I asked them to get the security gates fixed because both of them are open 24/7,” Holmes said. “So they said there is a security that walks around at night and I just don’t believe it, I’ve never seen security.”
“I’ve been here, and they have not gone down,” Smith said. “They’ve never been down.”
We e-mailed those concerns to Lerner Residential – the apartment management company. We're waiting for their response. Prince George’s County Police confirmed that they investigate these types of cases all the time.
Back in May, we told you about a local tow truck driver who was receiving calls about stolen tires across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia daily.
“Now it’s everywhere, it’s in Northern Virginia you can’t really profile which neighborhood it’s happening everywhere,” Smith said.
Now it’s to the point where Holmes has packed her bags and is looking to move.
“As soon as possible, hopefully by October,” Holmes said.