Monroe Police investigating car theft spike

The Monroe Police Department is investigating a recent surge in vehicle thefts in which older model Honda Civics and Accords are frequent targets.

Since September, 13 vehicles have been stolen from Monroe residences and businesses, most recently a dark blue 1990 Honda Accord taken from the Morning Run Apartments over the weekend. Of the 13, six were Honda Civics built from 1993 through 1998 and four were Honda Accords from 1990-98. Additionally, a 1990 Acura, a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2014 Hyundai Tucson have been stolen.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB), Accords and Civics made in the 1990s top the list of the 10 most frequently stolen vehicles in the nation, earning that distinction for several years running. Also popular among thieves are Acuras and Jeep Grand Cherokees, both landing spots in the top 10.

Monroe Police Sgt. Paul Ryan has been closely tracking the upswing. Ryan is a former member of the Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force (SNOCAT), a multi-agency team dedicated to the reduction of vehicle theft in Snohomish County.

Ryan said Accords and Civics are an appealing choice for theft because they can be started with screwdrivers or altered keys. Sometimes, a key from a completely different type of vehicle will open a locked car door and engage the ignition.   

“You don’t need the factory key to start some of these vehicles,” Ryan said.

In addition to the 13 cars, there have been three incidents of stolen license plates. Thieves will sometimes use license plates from another car to hinder law enforcement’s ability to identify a vehicle as stolen. A person may not realize right away that their plates have been stolen, so by attaching different license plates to a stolen car, the thief can drive the car longer.     

Monroe residents who own Hondas or Acuras made prior to around 2001 may want to consider investing in an anti-theft device to protect their property, Ryan said. During a recent National Night Out Against Crime event, the department passed out steering wheel locking devices, which serve as a low-cost deterrent. Anti-theft steering wheel locks can be purchased for $30-$40, and are available at the NAPA Auto Parts Monroe Parts House.   

Insurance companies often recommend a device called a LoJack, a theft protection system that emits a signal to law enforcement that can help them track a vehicle once it’s been stolen. LoJack is more of an investment, costing $700-$1,000, depending on the system features.

An audible alarm system is another option, ranging from under $100 up to $500, depending on the brand. Alarm systems can be ordered at the NAPA Auto Parts Monroe Parts House.   

Ryan said vehicle thefts in Monroe have fluctuated over the years. There were 58 thefts in 2011 and 36 in 2012, not including car prowls. The number of thefts spiked to 82 in 2013, staying consistent with 72 in 2014 and 78 in 2015. The numbers so far for 2016 are down in comparison to 2015, at 38 thefts, however, that number does not include the incidents reported in November.

It does not appear as though the cars are being stripped for parts, Ryan said, as several have been recovered intact.

“We don’t have any suspicion that these are getting chopped up for parts or sold,” Ryan said. “We really just think that it’s a mode of transportation for whoever’s stealing it.”

So far, four of the stolen vehicles have been located on Ben Howard Road, one in Everett and two in Monroe. Out of the three missing license plates, one has been located in Sultan, with two still missing. The department is investigating leads in hopes of catching the culprit(s).

“When a car gets stolen, it really affects people’s personal lives,” Ryan said.

Monroe YMCA employee Fabi Solano-Weide knows firsthand what it feels like to have her car stolen. She finished her shift at the Monroe Y at around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and walked out to the parking lot, where she discovered her 1997 black Honda Civic was missing. She had parked farther away from the door than usual, she said, which meant the car was not in range of YMCA security cameras. She is sure she locked the car, as it is an established habit. 

“I’d rather be a minute late to my shift knowing that I locked that darn vehicle, because it didn’t have an alarm,” she said.

It was determined that at some point during her six-hour shift, an unknown individual abandoned a different stolen vehicle in the parking lot, replacing it with Solano-Weide’s Civic.

Solano-Weide said her treatment by the Monroe Police Department was nothing short of stellar right from the start. Officer Max Michel responded to the scene to take the initial report, working to put her at ease and keep her calm in a stressful situation. 

“He drove me home personally,” Solano-Weide said. “I got to ride in a cop car, which was awesome, and then I forgot my keys in the car and he drove back to give them back. It was just very sweet of him.”

Three days later, the vehicle was found by Officer Craig Robertson during a routine patrol through an area off Roosevelt Road near the Foothills. Robertson, who works the night shift, located the vehicle shortly before midnight on Nov. 19. The car caught his attention, as it was parked in an unoccupied cul-de-sac that is part of a new subdivision.

Any time a car is observed in an obscure location it raises a red flag, Ryan said. Monroe residents who notice vehicles parked in remote, out-of-the-way places are encouraged to call 9-1-1 to report a suspicious vehicle, he added. It’s helpful if they can provide the license plate number, however, if it’s not safe to do so, just the location is enough. 

Once Robertson confirmed the car was stolen, he contacted Solano-Weide to find out if she wanted to come pick it up. When a stolen car report is initially taken, the registered owner is asked whether they would like the car impounded, Ryan said. Solano-Weide did consent to an impound, but typically the department seeks to contact the owner prior to that, to avoid costly fees.

Robertson attempted to contact Solano-Weide, which he eventually did through her sister, and waited until the two could get there to retrieve the car.   

“He was nice enough to stay with the car for well over an hour until we arrived,” Solano-Weide said. “He was super awesome. I can’t thank him enough.”

Solano-Weide has lived in Monroe for 10 years and has owned the Civic for seven years, without prior incident. The car was damaged by the thief, who apparently hot-wired it, she said, and the inside was ransacked. The thief took a T-Mobile router worth around $100, and Solano-Weide will need to have the car serviced to address damage to the ignition. It’s currently inoperable, she said, but she has it secured with a steering wheel locking device just to be safe.

She is thankful to the department for its handling of her case, she said.

“I’m completely grateful,” she said.

It’s always fun when an officer locates a stolen vehicle, Ryan said.

“The neat part is that sometimes we can go a shift without a lot of happiness,” Ryan said. “When we reconnect someone with their stolen goods, they are just the happiest, most thankful people. It’s really rewarding.”

The Monroe Police Department is actively investigating the thefts. Anybody with information is asked to call the department tip line at 360-863-4600.