Tire valve cap thefts on rise
Published on October 16th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - There are expenses that are a given in a suburban town like Stoneham: property taxes, water bills, the high cost of rent. But Central Street resident Roger Bencivenga has incurred a different cost four separate times in the last two years in Stoneham, and he is getting tired of it. Bencivenga is one of three seperate Stoneham victims of a group of youths stealing tire valve stem caps over the last two weeks.
Bencivenga drives a Mercedes C-320, and has had to replace the Mercedes tire valve stem caps numerous times over the last few years. According to Bencivenga, the caps also unfortunately make a nice fit on the tire valve of a bicycle, and local youths have been stealing the four sets of caps valued at $120.
“It’s getting a little expensive to replace the ones that come from the factories,” said Bencivenga who last reported the tire caps stolen on Thursday Oct. 3. “I saw some kids doing a bird-dog around the car on Monday or Tuesday after school, and they took the fourth pair of stem caps this week.”
Bencivenga is hoping to get the word out on the streets of Stoneham to discourage kids from doing it, and also to alert parents to tire caps that don’t belong on their child’s bicycle.
“This happened three times last year, and just this last recent time,” said Bencivenga.
Bencivenga reported one incident to the Stoneham Police, but wasn’t sure, at the time, whether it happened in Stoneham or at his workplace in Waltham.
“But I got laid off, and there’s now no question in my mind that it’s happening here,” said Bencivenga.
According to Bencivenga, Stoneham Police officials suggested that he videotape the car and record the valve thiefs during their next attempted heist.
“I’m not going to buy a $700 video camera over valve caps that are worth $30 a piece,” said the perplexed resident.
“They did also tell me to call if I see the kids circling the car again.”
Bencivenga noticed a group of the youths driving over the apartment building lawn on bikes, and then circling around his car, and estimated the kids to be between 8-12 years old.
He described the caps as shiny silver with the black embossed, three-pointed Mercedes Star emblazoned on the top of the cap.
“I’m just hoping that a parent will read about this, and check their kid’s bicycle for the caps,” said Bencivenga.
Bencivenga also spoke with Central School Principal Kathy Windisch, but, according to Windisch, her children aren’t allowed to take bikes to school.
Stoneham Police officials will be keeping an eye out for the valve caps, but, outside of catching the kids, don’t have any sterling words of advice for victims like Bencivenga.
“It’s a shame that the manufacturer made a decorative cap that can so easily fit on a bicycle tire valve,” said Stoneham Lt. Rick McCarthy. “We can only suggest that Bencivenga and his neighbors keep a watch out for his car.”
A second Spring Street victim reported their stem valve coverings stolen from their Cadillac on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 9.
A third complaint was lodged on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 12, but this time the Pomeworth Street resident chased the youths away toward Pomeworth Park.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!