Spare tire anti-theft device, and vehicle including same

A spare tire anti-theft storage system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a winch drum configured to wind a spare tire into a tire storage space and release the spare tire from the tire storage space;
• a ratchet gear operatively connected to the winch drum and configured to rotate in a first direction when the winch drum winds the spare tire into the tire storage space and in a second direction when the winch drum releases the spare tire from the tire storage space;
• a pawl configured to move between a locked configuration that prevents the ratchet gear from rotating in the second direction and an unlocked configuration that allows the ratchet gear to rotate in the second direction;
• and
• a release mechanism located at a remote location from the pawl, the release mechanism configured to cause the pawl to move into the unlocked configuration thereby allowing the ratchet gear to rotate in the second direction and the winch drum to release the spare tire from the tire storage space.

A vehicle comprising:

• a tire storage space accessible from an underside of the vehicle;
• a tire hoist configured to wind a spare tire into the tire storage space and release the spare tire from the tire storage space;
• and
• a spare tire anti-theft device including
• a locking mechanism configured to alternate between a locked configuration that prevents the tire hoist from releasing the spare tire from the tire storage space and an unlocked configuration that allows the tire hoist to release the spare tire from the tire storage space,
• a lever accessible without accessing the underside of the vehicle, and
• a mechanical line connecting the lever to the locking mechanism such that moving the lever causes the mechanical line to move the locking mechanism into the unlocked configuration.