Along with everything else, the price of tires has really increased over the past year.  Perhaps that has resulted in an increase in tire thefts locally.  A resident on the Congo Road reported that she is currently living out of town but came to Wilkes recently to check on her house.  When she got to her residence, she found that tires and wheels had been stolen from two vehicles parked in her yard.  Six tires and wheels were taken; there are no suspects.  Then a man in Millers Creek reported there had been some tires stolen from his back yard.  The 4 tires and wheels were valued at 200 dollars and were taken from the victim’s home on Meadowbrook Lane.  Again there are no suspects; the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the thefts.