We recently led a multi-agency operation to recover stolen vehicles and arrest vehicle theft suspects in the Tacoma area. In total, 9 vehicles were recovered and 5 arrests were made. Six vehicles fled from officers during the emphasis; two were later recovered.
The following vehicles were recovered during the operation:
Saturn SW (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Tacoma area. Located at a motel parking lot in the 1800 block of S 76th St in Tacoma.
GMC Sierra (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Puyallup Reservation. Located in the 8800 block of S Hosmer St in Tacoma.
Kia Optima (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Parkland area. Located at S 84th St and S Alaska St in Tacoma.
Ford Ranger (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Federal Way area. Located in the 7000 block of Tacoma Mall Blvd in Tacoma.
Hyundai Tucson (occupied)
Stolen from the Tacoma area. Located in the 1400 block of Puyallup Ave in Tacoma. The vehicle tried to flee, but officers stopped it using spike strips. Three females (ages 16, 17 and 18) were arrested and booked into jail/Remann Hall. Each of them has been arrested before in a stolen vehicle. The 18-year-old arrestee pleaded guilty to vehicle theft in November and received a suspended sentence.
Subaru WRX (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Black Diamond area. Located at a grocery store parking lot in the 7200 block of Pacific Ave in Tacoma.
Kia Optima (occupied)
Stolen from the South Hill area. Located in the 9900 block of Pacific Ave S in Tacoma. A 66-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Subaru Legacy (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Lacey area. The driver fled from an officer and the vehicle was later located unoccupied at S 19th St and S G St in Tacoma.
Acura MDX (occupied)
Stolen from the Puyallup Reservation. Located in the 9600 block of S Yakima Ave in Tacoma. Officers were unable to develop probable cause for arrest at the time of contact because the occupants gave conflicting stories and there was a key in the ignition.
Officers also contacted a 33-year-old male who had warrants for residential burglary and domestic violence assault. He was arrested and booked into jail.
We want to thank the Tacoma Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, and the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division for participating in the operation.
“Auto thefts are a regional issue,” said Sgt. Jeff Carroll of the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force. “We have detectives from multiple agencies within King and Pierce Counties working together to aggressively investigate prolific thieves and get people their stolen vehicles back.”
Tips to protect your vehicle:
- Remove or hide all valuables
- Lock your car
- Don’t leave keys or fobs inside
- Don’t leave your vehicle running unattended
- Use anti-theft devices (alarm, kill switch, steering wheel lock
- Park in well-lit areas
The Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force (PSATT) is dedicated to investigating prolific auto theft offenders through multi-agency cooperation in King & Pierce Counties. The PSATT is funded through a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA).