The Perth County OPP are searching for suspects after 30 sets of rims and tires were stolen from a St. Marys Ford dealership early Wednesday.
Police say that sometime between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the suspects entered the lot on the south side of Queen Street West and stole the rims and tires.
The vehicles were left behind, including Ford F-150 pickup trucks and a Ford Explorer.
Joe Taylor, who owns the St. Marys Ford dealership, says "There is six pick up trucks with all four missing, there is one with just two missing, and then there's the Explorer with all four missing."
The tire brands included Michelin, Goodyear and Pirelli, and the rims stolen were mainly 20 inch rims. The sets were valued at about $1,000 each, and the total value of the stolen goods is about $30,000.
The robbery is believed to be a professional job, with the trucks and SUV found jacked up with wooden blocks placed underneath.
Taylor says "[The blocks] are nailed together and it looks to be two by eights, and they did a good job. They had them made before they got here, so they have been planning this and just put them underneath and took the wheels and away they went."
There was a similar robbery in Listowel just two months ago, and OPP Const. Kees Wijnands say dealerships are hit on a regular basis.
Thieves know as long as they don't get caught they can cash in quickly, with the rims and brand name tires ending up at used tire dealers, local scrap yards or online.
While Taylor is upset, he says he's moving on, but will be blocking entrances to try to make it harder for thieves to get away.
Meanwhile anyone who may have seen people in the area of the dealership on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, or may have seen vehicles carrying tires and rims are asked to contact police.
Perth County OPP can be reached at 1-888-310-1122 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
