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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Stolen VW van shows up 35 years later

A 1965 Volkswagen bus reported stolen in Spokane more than 35 years ago was recovered in mid-October in the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized it during a container examination. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
A 1965 Volkswagen bus reported stolen in Spokane more than 35 years ago was recovered in mid-October in the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized it during a container examination. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Customs agents in Los Angeles got a surprise last month when they opened a shipping container headed for the Netherlands: a restored 1965 Volkswagen van reported stolen in Spokane more than 35 years ago.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the van made it from Spokane in the midst of Expo ’74 to the Los Angeles seaport last month, though they assume it changed hands several times. The van was reported stolen from an auto upholstery shop on July 12, 1974; authorities have not been able to find the original owner, whom they would not identify.

Read Shawn Vestal's story here.




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