Vehicle titles taken in Valley theft

The next safe at Jennifer’s Auto Sales will be “huge” and bolted to a concrete floor.

“You’ll have to bomb it out,” said Jennifer Johnson, owner of the used car dealership in Greenacres that was burglarized early Monday.

In less than six minutes, a thief busted out a window, stole a 1-square-foot safe containing 38 car titles and a few car keys, and temporarily disabled the business at 17416 E. Sprague.

“I got a call about 1:30 a.m. from the alarm company,” Johnson said. “A huge rock was used to bust through the glass. The Sheriff’s Office was there in six minutes. I got there in seven minutes.”

Authorities said the thief – or thieves – was likely in pursuit of cash, since they took the safe.

“The titles don’t do them any good unless they have a car,” said Sgt. Dave Reagan, of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Most of Monday was spent “regrouping, getting a new alarm system and doing what we need to be safe in this world,” Johnson said. “You think you have it all together, and in comes a snake in the night.”

Johnson said she “desperately” wants the titles back. She’s offering a $500 no-questions-asked reward for their return.

Salesman Derek Basso said one of the titles was to a “sweet” 2005 Dodge Magnum with power almost everything. Some of the other titles were for Volkswagen Jettas, several trucks and a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse with about 60,000 miles on it.

Brasso, who has worked at Jennifer’s Auto Sales for nearly four years, is the most junior salesperson. The business will have been in its current spot for 10 years come January, Johnson said.

“We’ve had little problems like tire slashings, but nothing like this,” she said. “We don’t really have any petty-theft problems. Our customers are happy. We don’t have any disgruntled employees because it’s a solid crew.”