Tires deliberately punctured in South Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

The rash of flat tires on the South Shore continued this weekend, with five reports on Saturday and one Sunday.

Unsuspecting drivers in the area are driving over caltrops and ninja road stars. They can easily be purchased; with the main purpose being to deflate tires. They are being placed on the street and drivers puncture their tires after riding over them.

This is an example of the tool used to puncture tires.

“Some people are real jerks and they get their jollies making other people’s lives difficult,” Police Chief Brian Uhler told Lake Tahoe News. 

Because the flat isn’t necessarily immediate it’s difficult to pinpoint the location of where the devices have been placed.

“I was driving home and turning onto Golden Bear and my low tire light came on,” one victim told Lake Tahoe News on Dec. 4. “It’s probably some kids who think that it is funny.”

The calls first came into the SLTPD sporadically about a week ago. Now neighboring jurisdictions are reporting the same problem.

The various crimes that the culprits could be charged with are all misdemeanors, which means they could receive a citation instead of going to jail. If a driver were to have an accident because of the flat, the seriousness of the crime could rise to a felony.

Officers are seeking the public’s help in find the people responsible for putting the destructive devices on local streets.