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Caught on video

Man steals tires from auto dealer

Jun 3, 2019 | 4:21 PM

Video of a homeless man taking tires from a local car lot prompted a businessman to seek out and find the property.

Joe Skerritt, the owner of Swan Lake Motors, said he arrived at work this morning to find the wheels removed from a Jeep that was up for sale.

“It was mind-blowing, but it is what it is, I guess,” Skerritt told Vernon Matters.

After checking the security video, Skerritt said he headed for a local homeless camp near the 20th Street extension and found three of the four tires, among countless other items.

He found the fourth tire later.

Skerritt said he want to the camp and people were cooperative in rounding up the tires.

“They were very polite about the thing. There wasn’t any confrontation about it. I went in there with a cool head, not going in there screaming and yelling, just going in there and saying, ‘Hey look, they’re gone, if you see them, hey great and I’ll give you a reward for getting them back.’ I don’t want to start fights with anyone. I just want my possessions back,” Skerritt said.

Skerritt said he’s had little break-ins before at his business, but nothing as “ballsy” as this, saying it took the culprit about 90 minutes to take off the tires Sunday morning.

Jeep at Swan Lake Motors has tires stolen while in lot. (Facebook/Joe Skerritt)
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