Since mid-June, metal spikes have riddled the streets of Paso Robles.
According to Paso Robles City Police Sgt. Steve Boyett, the department has received at least 40 reports of tire damage over the past six weeks after motorists found caltrops, or metal spikes, lodged in their car tires after driving on local roads.
“This seems to be a new trend. I haven’t seen this in Paso,” Boyett said. “Doesn’t mean that it never happened, but I don’t ever recall dealing with this—definitely not to this magnitude.”
Police warned the public of the issue on July 22, offering a $1,000 reward for any information that would lead to an arrest for the case.
According to the department, the spikes had started to affect emergency services, disabling an ambulance responding to a call earlier this month and requiring a second ambulance to step in.
“In another case that same evening, a tow truck assisting a stranded motorist whose vehicle had been disabled by a caltrop, was itself rendered inoperable by the same type of device,” the department stated in a press release.
As if about a week later, Boyett told New Times, police now have a couple of leads, but the motive behind the case remains a mystery as reports continue to file in—the most recent two occurring on July 28.
According to Boyett, police haven’t identified any one targeted area.
“It’s in the public roadway. So whoever’s doing this, they’re dispersing them in the public roadway, which indiscriminately victimizes several people,” he said. “We are unsure right now of motive, whether it’s targeted or whether it’s by chance, and these other victims are innocent bystanders in a case.”
The most recent vandalisms happened primarily along Creston Road and the Riverside and Black Oak areas.
This type of vandalism isn’t unique to the Paso Robles area, though, and has been happening more often in other areas of the country.
On July 22, a man in White City, Utah, was arrested for allegedly placing handmade tire spikes throughout his neighborhood roads, also damaging neighbors’ tires, according to KSL News reporting.
NPR has also been hot on the trend’s trail, reporting on July 27 of a scam in Colombia where car shops were allegedly placing spikes on local roads, forcing customers to come in for repairs.
For now, the Paso Robles police department is asking drivers to be vigilant of their surroundings when driving in the area and to report any damage, if necessary, as the active investigation continues.
Drivers who have been affected are encouraged to file a report by calling the Paso Robles Police Department or by submitting an online report at prcity.com/671/File-a-Police-Report.
Anonymous tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers by calling its 24-hour hotline at 801-549-STOP, or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus a message to CRIMES (274637). Δ
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 10, 2025.