Fire, vandalism damage pickups

Published 10:44 pm Friday, July 20, 2007

ARLINGTON – Police aren’t sure what’s behind the early morning vandalism and fire Friday that damaged 10 new pickup trucks and caused $70,000 damage.

Why vandals popped gas caps and drilled holes in the gas tanks of the trucks owned by Dwayne Lane’s Family of Auto Centers isn’t clear.

“It is odd. It is odd,” Arlington Police Chief John Gray said. “Is this a gas theft or is this flat out malicious vandalism?”

The damage was discovered after a fire broke out at the new-vehicle storage lot at the corner of Highway 530 and 59th Avenue NE.

Police don’t know if the blaze, reported just before 2 a.m., was set intentionally or started accidentally, Gray said.

They believe the fire broke out after somebody drilled into the tanks.

“Drilling any gas tank is not very wise,” said Tom Lane, the auto dealer’s CEO.

When firefighters arrived, they found a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup truck engulfed in flames, Arlington Fire Chief Jim Rankin said. Two other 2007 Chevy trucks were damaged by the intense heat. Seven other trucks were damaged with holes drilled in the gas tanks.

Police found a container they believe was brought by the vandal to collect gas.

With fuel prices climbing, Arlington has had previous reports of attempts to steal gas, Arlington police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

“When gas prices spiked last summer we had some issues with gas theft, but never to this extent,” she said.

Police are investigating reports of other gas thefts in the city. They also are looking for people who may have witnessed Friday morning’s incident, Gray said.

“If this is vandalism then who benefits?” Gray asked.

Dwayne Lane’s has been the subject of controversy over land use issues in the Smokey Point area in the past. The property where the fire and vandalism took place has been owned by the car dealership for several years, Gray said.

In response, the business is going to increase security at the property, Lane said.

“We’re going to hire a night watchman,” he said.

Police continue to investigate and no arrests have been made, Gray said.

If someone set out to steal gas, they went to the wrong place, the police chief said.

While sitting on the lot waiting for a prospective buyer, new cars typically have a quarter tank or less.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.