A ‘Flat Tire Culprit’ Could be at Large in This Iowa County

This is a story straight out of Jeepers Creepers. Faithful fans of the franchise, or those who might've casually watched the original trilogy, might recall that one of the weapons used by the horrifying, grotesque Creeper was a makeshift caltrop used to spike victims' tires. The caltrop in question had three points and would spin like a fidget when thrown; the spikes themselves were sharpened bone fragments.

This story out of Guthrie County, Iowa, part of the Des Moines metro, is not as macabre as Jeepers Creepers, but it is a concerning development for an otherwise quiet community. As of late, there have been a significant spike in an issue that's always been uncommon: tires punctured by caltrops.

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Residents in Guthrie Center, IA have been turning up at local auto shops with flat tires caused by these caltrops, defined as "a spiked metal device thrown on the ground to impede wheeled vehicles or (formerly) cavalry horses." Simply put, these are devices specifically designed to act as mini spike strips and to cause tire trouble for vehicles big and small.

Dean Wetzel, the owner of a local repair shop, commented on the sheer volume of folks with this issue show up at his shop:

I've known about five or six different people that have had them in their tires, probably over the three-month period most of the summer - Dean Wetzel, per Local 5

As reported by Local 5 and KCCI, the Guthrie County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in helping find whomever is responsible for throwing the caltrops on the road, leading to such an influx in folks with punctured tires.

The office urges anyone with info to contact them at 641-747-2214. You can find out more information about this ongoing issue on Local 5's website.