'It's like the Wild West': Thefts, vandalism rising at Washington auto dealerships, owners say
Author Natalie Swaby | Published 5:56 PM PDT March 23, 2022 | Updated 6:14 PM PDT March 23, 2022
RENTON, Wash. — Auto dealership owners are seeing an increase in thefts and break-ins around western Washington.
At a Harley-Davidson dealership in Fife, the door was smashed in overnight. It's the fifth break-in at the business this year, according to owner Ed Wallace.
However, Wallace says this time the outcome was different.
"The police caught him. He had a couple of laptops from the dealership, some tools, then he began admitting to other crimes he committed here," said Wallace.
Not far away, Hinshaw’s Automotive Group also reported a break-in Tuesday night.
"It is probably thousands of dollars worth of damage. And I mean, at best, they probably siphoned off $20 worth of gas," said Arianna Bigelow.
At the end of January, a vehicle was used to bust in the doors at another one of their locations. The thieves stole car keys and later returned to take three separate vehicles within ten days.
"We're having people just rob automobiles. It's like the Wild West," said Brian Dansel, Executive Director of the Washington State Independent Auto Dealers Association. He said the businesses he represents don’t know what to do.
[Continue Reading]