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

Vehicle prowls up sharply in Kootenai County

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has seen a big increase in vehicle prowls this month as thieves are apparently doing their Christmas shopping. People have been walking down residential streets and looking for unlocked cars, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Stu Miller. When they find an unlocked car they steal whatever they can find, including GPS units and other electronics. Some cars in shopping areas with items left in plain view have been forcefully broken into as well, Miller said. “They’re all over, but the highest number of them are in Hayden,” Miller said. There have been 16 vehicle prowls reported so far in December. That is much higher than the eight reported in the entire month of November and also higher than the six reported last year in the first 12 days of December, Miller said. People should lock their vehicles and either remove all valuables or hide them out of sight. Anyone who sees suspicious activity in their neighborhood is urged to call police.