Rash of stolen cars has police warning public

Police urge the public not to leave cars unattended while warming them up after a spate of vehicle recoveries and arrests over the weekend.

The Spokane Police Department recovered 13 stolen vehicles and arrested six people Friday and Saturday in connection with the thefts.

The stolen cars were located in various parts of Spokane. Three of the vehicles were spotted by citizens who noticed their appearance was out of the ordinary, police said. Ten of the cars were found by police during patrols. Of the 10, five of the vehicles were occupied and their occupants arrested, according to a statement from the Spokane Police Department.

Police said thieves can act swiftly while cars are unattended and running.

“As temperatures continue to hover near of below freezing it can be tempting to let your vehicle warm-up prior to embarking on the morning commute,” the statement said.

Call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 promptly if you witness a car theft, the release said.