Concern grows over smugglers' homemade road spikes

McALLEN — U.S. Border Patrol agents are asking for the public’s help to determine the sources of homemade road spikes used by smugglers in the Rio Grande Valley.

Smugglers often hurl the devices onto roads during chases to flatten the tires of pursuing vehicles. The devices, or caltrops, are comprised of several metal points arranged such that when a caltrop lands on the road, one sharp tip always points up, posing a tire hazard.

The homemade spikes are also deployed in advance in areas that smugglers frequent along the Rio Grande, said Border Patrol spokesman Joe Treviño.

"They’ve been known to throw them out just like that," Treviño said. "Obviously, they break apart and just spread out everywhere."

The use of the spikes is becoming more frequent in the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector — only one incident was cited in 2008, and there have already been four in 2010.

The spikes were used 15 times in the sector in 2009 and damaged 33 vehicles, according to a statement from the Border Patrol. Thirteen of those vehicles belonged to civilians.

Although the spikes have not caused any injuries, Border Patrol agents worry they could cause a driver to lose control of his vehicle and result in a wreck.

Spike strips used by law enforcement officials in the Valley are designed to be easy to deploy and remove, and they are generally safer for the occupants of the pursuing vehicle — some have hollow barbs that allow air to be released from tires gradually, rather than causing a blowout that may result in swerving.

The homemade devices often look like nails welded together and resemble "jacks," Treviño said, referring to the metal objects used in the game of jacks. "They use different kinds of metal and rocks."

Anyone with information about the devices being used in the Valley is asked to call Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956) 668-8477.