December 14, 2009 in City

Allstate will auction stolen VW van

By The Spokesman-Review
 
Tags:AllstatemicrobustheftVW
The Spokesman-Review photo

The only photo Michele Squires has of her stolen van is this one taken in the 1970s with a friend.
(Full-size photo)

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Allstate Insurance Co. will auction a 1965 VW bus found 35 years after it was stolen from a Spokane woman and donate the proceeds to an organization that helps homeless women and children.

The announcement ends weeks of uncertainty about the van and whether its former owner, Michele “Mikey” Squires of Spokane, might somehow get it back. It also leaves the German buyer of the restored van – which changed hands several times and regained an apparently clean title – on the hook for more than $20,000.

Allstate announced it would auction the van and donate the proceeds to Lydia Place, a homeless shelter for women and children in Bellingham.

“It’s our hope that the tremendous public interest in this unique vehicle and its unique history will translate into a significant contribution to Lydia Place,” said Michelle Lee, field vice president of Allstate’s northwest region.

Squires, a 58-year-old manager at the Cathay Inn, owned the van in the 1970s before it was stolen from the parking lot of an upholstery shop. Allstate paid a claim of $2,500 and became the legal owner. In October, the van was seized by customs agents after a check of its vehicle identification number turned up the theft from 1974.

The story drew nationwide attention, and people from all over the country contacted Squires and lobbied Allstate to return the van to her. Squires said today that she and her boyfriend plan to enter a bid in the online auction for the van, but doubts that the several thousand they can afford will be enough.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “Of course, I’d like to have it. It’s brought back a whole bunch of good memories. I’ve got a good story for my grandkids.”

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12 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • nwgirl on December 14 at 3:05 p.m.

    That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! Allstate had a slew of good options… so where did the idea of auctioning it off to a random charity come into play? If you’re not going to take the money that’s legally yours, and not going to benefit from the positive PR of giving it back to the original owner, then GIVE IT TO THE POOR DUDE WHO PAID $20-GRAND FOR IT! He’s the real victim here! Who makes these decisions, anyway??

  • Fuschia on December 14 at 3:21 p.m.

    I agree Allstate should give it back to the rightful owner whom should pay them what they gave her.

  • annie1959 on December 14 at 6:04 p.m.

    I think it is really only fair to return the van to the lady that lost it. I mean come on—it was stolen from her! I sympathize with her in the right thing being done here and it is not what Allstate is doing! Now—just because Allstate has the almighty upper hand and the VW is now a “classic” they are going to be “greedy” and keep something that is not rightfully “theirs” –excuse me but I was taught that this is STEALING!

  • Uptight_Spokanite on December 14 at 7:27 p.m.

    Allstate wouldn’t no good PR if it rear ended them on the interstate. Morons.

  • Scoutster on December 14 at 11:04 p.m.

    You’re in greedy hands with Allstate.

  • nwgirl on December 15 at 12:16 a.m.

    Seriously??! The woman who had it stolen from her was repaid the ENTIRE bus’s value… $2500… over 35 years ago! Fairness delivered. That’s why we buy insurance. That being said, the man who just this year purchased the van - believing it had a clean title - paid $20,000 for the freshly restored vehicle… and he gets NOTHING? All so Allstate can donate what ethically should be his to some random charity. Make the poor dude who’s out $20,000 your charity! He doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him! Allstate: take the cash that’s legally yours, or give it to the person who morally deserves it. But don’t donate it to some random charity. This Robin Hood crap won’t earn you any bonus points!

  • Uptight_Spokanite on December 15 at 5:16 a.m.

    The guy that got hosed on the bad deal has recourse through the courts. He doesn’t need to be rewarded for a bad purchasing decision. That’s what carfax and all that is for. Simple title search with a VIN woulda saved him a big hassle.

    Allstate is missing a golden opportunity here to give or sell the van back to the original owner. They coulda used her in ads someday. What evil corporate monsters. I canceled my Allstate auto insurance yesterday over this. I think everyone should.

  • JFRENCH on December 15 at 5:24 a.m.

    It’s all about that Gecko, baby.

  • twobit on December 15 at 7:57 a.m.

    the dealership is bonded so the guy in germany didnt get screwed he will get his money and the woman was paid off 25 years ago so the only one gaining is the charitie

  • sledmike on December 15 at 8:09 a.m.

    Allstate should absolutely give it back to her…$2500 sounds about right for a restored classic VW. I have asked the 4th owner of my first home to sell it back to me for the measly $30,000 I sold it for….its now work 6 times that amount. I was considering asking for my virginity back…seems that got sold a little cheaply as well…lost the address though.

    ….she cashed the check, its Allstate’s car. I think donating the profits from selling it is a good thing. People in need will ‘profit’.

  • sledmike on December 15 at 8:11 a.m.

    “worth” not “work”….clumsy thumb…

  • fbhkymom on December 15 at 8:12 a.m.

    You would think that Allstate would at least give the proceeds to a local charity in Spokane. Not Bellingham. Sad.

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