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

Car thieves strike again but this time ditch stolen Honda in the Spokane River

This car belonging to Francesca and Darrell Russell was reported stolen last night and found partially submerged in the Spokane River near the intersection North Napa Street and East South Riverton Avenue early Thursday morning. (Jonathan Glover / The Spokesman-Review)

“Hey babe. I found the car … It’s in the river.”

Those were the words spoken by Francesca Russell to her husband Darrell Russel over the phone early this morning after police found their car partially submerged in the Spokane River near the corner of North Napa Street and East South Riverton Avenue.

At around 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, Francesca said she heard what she thought was her Honda sedan’s squeaky engine starting up, but didn’t take notice as they were in the middle of eating dinner.

“I thought I heard the damn belt squealing,” she said. “But I didn’t think it was mine.”

About 20 minutes later they decided to go outside and check when they noticed it was stolen. They notified police and also went looking themselves. Francesca said she and her husband even looked near the river embankment where it was later found, which is just a few dozen yards from their apartment complex.

“We thought maybe it rolled own the hill, but when we park it we turn the wheel all the way so it can’t roll,” she said.

In the car were Francesca’s new shoes, some of her daughter’s Christmas presents and a few other items. From what police told her, it seemed as though the thieves hadn’t taken much of anything.

Francesca and other neighbors indicated the area was a hot spot for car break-ins and thefts, though this is the first time they’ve seen a car dumped in the river nearby.

“Why wouldn’t they just leave it on the side of the road somewhere? Francesca said. “Makes no sense.”