Thieves steal 6 hot cars from lot
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, November 18, 2001
By Jana Hill
For the Herald
MILL CREEK — This year has not been a good one for JRP Autos because of stolen cars, but it’s willing to pay a $1,500 reward to make things better.
The Mill Creek-area car dealer is offering that reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of car thieves who have stolen six vehicles this year.
Joe Malaky, assistant manager of JRP Autos, said the lot has been in business for a decade without a single theft before this year.
The last four were stolen between August and October. One car was stolen while on a test drive.
Stolen most recently was a black 1999 Acura Integra. Also swiped this year were two 1999 Honda Preludes, 1995 and 1997 Acura Integras, and a 1996 Honda Accord.
"They’re targeting mainly import vehicles," Malaky said.
The thieves were brazen, cutting the gates on the lot that sits on the busy Bothell-Everett Highway.
"They took off with bright stickers and all," Malaky said.
The business has shelled out plenty because of the thefts. JRP Auto’s insurance premium tripled, and now the company is paying for a nighttime employee to keep watch over the lot.
"We put up a thicker gate" also, he said.
The next step in increased security includes a video camera. And the business is looking into some high-tech equipment to prevent thefts.
Aside from wanting to recover costs, Malaky said the award is being offered because "we are aware this is a growing concern" for other businesses and residents in the area.
Anyone who has information can call JRP Auto at 425-485-2535. JRP is located at 19302 Bothell-Everett Highway.
"If there’s any leads, everything’s confidential," Malaky said, adding the information will be passed on to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Rick Bart said his only concern was people overstepping their bounds in getting the information.
"We’re always kind of cautious about that. People have to understand that they can’t take the law into their own hands," Bart said.
Jana Hill edits the Mill Creek edition of the weekly Enterprise newspapers. You can contact Hill at 425-673-6533 or hill@heraldnet.com.
