Yesterday, the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force (PSATTF) led a multi-agency operation to recover stolen vehicles and arrest vehicle theft suspects in the Fife area of Pierce County. In total, 15 vehicles were recovered and 5 arrests were made.
The following vehicles were recovered during yesterday’s operation:
Ford Ranger (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Tukwila area. Located at a casino in the 5700 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife.
Kia Rio (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Tacoma area. Located in the 1300 block of S 90th St Ct in Tacoma.
Land Rover (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Milton area. Located in the 1300 block of S 90th St Ct in Tacoma.
Hyundai Tucson (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Parkland area. Located in the 1300 block of S 90th St Ct in Tacoma.
Kia Optima (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Parkland area. Located in the 1300 block of S 90th St Ct in Tacoma.
Chevy Suburban (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Parkland area. Located in the 1300 block of S 90th St in Tacoma.
Chevy S10 (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Northeast Tacoma area. Located at a motel in the 4600 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife. Officers located meth and suspected fentanyl pills in the center console.
Semi-trailer (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Tacoma area. Located on Port of Tacoma Road in Fife.
Jeep Cherokee (occupied)
Stolen from the Des Moines area. Located at a casino in the 5700 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife. A 33-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Nissan Pickup (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Tacoma area. Located at E 40th St and E F St in Tacoma.
Ford F-250 (occupied)
Stolen from the Chehalis Reservation. Located at an apartment complex in the 2500 block of 62nd Ave E in Fife. A 33-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Toyota Rav-4 (occupied)
Stolen from the Puyallup area. Located at a casino in the 4300 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife. A 17-year-old male was inside the vehicle. He was arrested and booked into jail for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. The car was used in a strongarm robbery at the Gig Harbor Home Depot on Oct. 12. One of the vehicle’s occupants snatched a purse from an 87-year-old woman. The victim’s arm got caught in the purse straps and she was dragged for several yards. Gig Harbor PD towed the vehicle and will search it for evidence.
Chevy Camaro (occupied)
Located at a motel in the 4600 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife. A fake VIN plate had been placed on this car, so investigators were unable to immediately identify it and determine if/where it was stolen. Inside, investigators located $6,800 in cash, hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills and a firearm. A 28-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail for felony assault and firearm warrants. Charges will likely be added after investigators serve a search warrant on the vehicle and confirm its stolen status.
Mazda 5 (occupied)
Stolen from the Fife area. Located at a fast-food restaurant in the 1700 block of 51st Ave E in Fife. A 47-year-old male was arrested and booked into jail for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Honda CRV (unoccupied)
Stolen from the Seattle area. Located at a casino in the 5700 block of Pacific Hwy E in Fife.
We want to thank the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Fife Police Department, Edgewood Police Department and Puyallup Tribal Police for participating in today’s 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).