Tire troubles are turning up in Tahoe.
Police are warning drivers to be on the lookout for ninja spikes. They are small spikes that flatten tires. Someone has been scattering them on roads in the South Lake Tahoe area.
“Our first report of the throwing stars was back in November.” said Jamie Harness manager at Mike's Tires.
The sharp pieces of metal have many names including Throwing Stars, Caltrops and Ninja Jacks. Mike's Tires on Lake Tahoe Blvd. has quite the collection.
“We have found about 25 here," Harness said. "We suspect most of our customers have thrown them from their tires before getting to us.”
Evidence of the spikes are piling up at the South Lake Tahoe police department. These spikes are not homemade and have labels indicating they were made in china.
“This is defiantly malicious," said South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Ross Molesworth. "People trying to deflate tires.”
Spikes can be purchased on the internet for less than 5 bucks. They are supposed to be used to injure someone’s feet.
Drivers often see a low pressure light on their car several miles after they run over the spikes. That makes it hard for police to track the exact drop off location. Investigators have contacted the spikes manufacturers but they have not received a response.
Winter months are the busiest times of year for Tahoe tire shops. Harness said the spike problem isn’t the kind of business they like to see.
“On a normal day we handle 50 tires a day this has added an additional 5 to 15 a day,” Harness said.
If you are heading to South Lake Tahoe this weekend, make sure your spare tire and jack is in order. Police say if you do run over a spike to report it, not touch it There may be finger prints on the spike that investigators can pull from the metal.