Lights & Sirens » Car theft

Puyallup officers, police dog injured in scuffle with suspected car thief

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:17:05 +0000

From the catch-up file:

Three Puyallup police officers and a police dog were injured last week while trying to arrest a suspected car thief.

The incident unfolded the night of May 15 after a car stolen from Seattle was abandoned in a bank parking lot at South Meridian and 14^th Street SW.

Witnesses saw a woman flee the vehicle, which had just been involved in a hit-and-run collision in South Hill.

Arriving officers spotted the woman on the balcony of a nearby motel and went to question her. While interviewing the woman, a man jumped out at officers, sprayed one …

Police: Man stole car from Lakewood dealership while owner had the trunk open

Alexis Krell — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:27:53 +0000

Police say a man drove off the lot of a Lakewood dealership with a used car Saturday, in such a hurry that he left the trunk open.

He didn’t keep it, though, officers said.

Or rather, police didn’t let him, since he allegedly stole the vehicle out from under the owner’s nose.

The owner parked his car at the dealership about 2:45 p.m. at 11503 Pacific Highway Southwest and left his keys on the dash board as he walked to the back of the car and opened the hatchback trunk to get his belongings from the car.

Meanwhile, another man …

Prosecutors charge another person allegedly tied to auto theft ring

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:04:07 +0000

Pierce County prosecutors have charged another person in connection with an undercover operation that took down nearly two dozen alleged car thieves.

Kassandra Chambers, 21, is charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. She has not been arrested of arraigned.

Chambers and two others are accused of stealing a Ford Explorer, Kia Sorrento and Chevy Trail Blazer from an automobile repair shop in Tacoma Jan. 22. The owner was in his office, glanced at surveillance cameras and saw three people drive away in customer vehicles.

Later that day, authorities …

Man tries to steal Lakewood police car after carjacking woman’s vehicle

Stacia Glenn — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:11:56 +0000

The elderly woman managed to grab her cane before the man shoved her out of the car and drove away, dragging the woman’s friend behind him as he pulled out of the convenience store parking lot in Lakewood.

The women watched, stunned, as the 23-year-old driver crashed into a parked car as he fled the 7/11 store in the 15400 block of Union Avenue Wednesday.

While police listened to the victims’ story of what happened, two officers spotted the stolen Kia run a red light and speed through town. They flipped on their lights and sirens and followed the car …

Suspected car thief sought in connection with Tacoma-based undercover operation

Stacia Glenn — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:05:24 +0000

Brandy McGregor sold at least three stolen cars to undercover detectives working out of a Tacoma storefront to stem auto theft in Pierce County.

She couldn’t be found last week when the Auto Crimes Enforcement Task Force served warrants across two counties and arrested 21 people. Now, Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is featuring her in the “fugitive” area of its website, hoping someone will lead police to her whereabouts.

Pierce County prosecutors have charged McGregor with two counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property and two counts of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.

Court records show she sold a …

More charges filed against suspected auto thief ringleaders

Stacia Glenn — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:34:52 +0000

Charges are piling up for two of the men accused of operating an automobile theft ring busted this week by an undercover operation based in Tacoma.

Pierce County prosecutors added more charges against Samnang Reuy, 28, and Harrie Oh Chan, 21. They were arraigned on new charges Thursday.

Reuy has pleaded not guilty to four counts of trafficking in stolen property, three counts of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, one count of second-degree theft, one count of second-degree identity theft and one count of residential burglary.

Chan has pleaded not guilty to one count of residential burglary, one count …

More arrests expected in car theft investigation in Pierce, Thurston counties

Stacia Glenn — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:45:08 +0000

Police hope a large takedown like the automobile theft investigation that ended this week with 21 people behind bars will deter other car thieves.

“If we create fear among these burglars that they’re selling to the cops, we’re hoping there will be less car thefts,” Lakewood police Lt. Chris Lawler said. “Car thefts affect everyday people and it’s frustrating.”

The six-month undercover operation called “Shiny Penny” spanned Pierce and Thurston counties with warrants served at five houses and multiple vehicles.

More arrests are anticipated.

Some of the top players charged in the case are Reuy Samnang, 28; Harrie Oh Chan, …

Sting involving Pierce County nets 21 suspected thieves, 26 stolen cars

Alexis Krell — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:28:22 +0000

Pierce County arraignments started today after a six-month undercover investigation that ended Tuesday with 21 people in custody and 26 stolen cars recovered, including one owned by a soldier who was deployed.

Detectives from several agencies bought stolen property from suspects as part of the Auto Crimes Enforcement Task Force, an operation they called “Shiny Penny,” according to Lakewood police.

The investigation involved auto theft, firearms violations, residential burglary and fraud across Washington state, including Pierce County, police said.

Officers identified 26 suspects during the investigation and recovered 16 firearms, among other stolen property.

SWAT teams served warrants Tuesday at …

Moving truck stolen from Bonney Lake driveway recovered

Stacia Glenn — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:01:31 +0000

Bonney Lake police said they have recovered a moving truck stolen out of a driveway two weeks ago.

It’s unknown whether the stolen goods – antique furniture, Mary Kay cosmetics, jewelry and electronics – were still inside the 26-foot Penske moving truck when it was discovered in Puyallup over the weekend.

The thieves took the truck from a driveway in the 20700 block of 61^st Street East either late Jan. 31 or early Feb. 1. The homeowner had just moved from Spokane and hadn’t yet unpacked her belongings.

No arrest has been made.

Tacoma police dog helps track auto theft suspect

Stacia Glenn — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:47:37 +0000

The suspected car thief gave a Tacoma police officer the slip in an alley.

The officer spotted the stolen car Sunday night and tried to pull him over in the 4800 block of Portland Avenue but the driver turned into an alley before the officer caught up to him and fled on foot, leaving his passenger inside the vehicle.

Police used a dog to track him and arrested the man a few blocks away.

Lt. David O’Dea said the man is a registered sex offender who was recently convicted of taking a motor vehicle without permission. He was booked into …