Focus put on stolen vehicles

EVERETT – Jon Schmidt makes a game out of finding stolen cars on the streets of Everett.

Volunteers needed

The Everett Police Department is looking for volunteers for its senior program. Volunteers do a variety of activities, including looking for stolen vehicles and checking on houses while owners are on vacation. For more information, call Sgt. Mike Franckowiak at 425-257-7520.

“There are little tricks that make it fun, like there are no reds today or twos or sixes or eights,” Schmidt said, ticking off the colors and license plate numbers on Thursday’s list of stolen cars.

Since August, Schmidt has found 14 stolen cars while working as a code compliance officer for the city.

Schmidt is part of a pilot program, Community Auto Recovery Emphasis, launched by the Everett Police Department to get cars and trucks back to their owners.

In a city where hundreds of thousands of cars come and go every day, finding a stolen vehicle can be difficult, police said.

“We do a good job of getting stolen cars back, but it’s nice to have extra sets of eyes out there,” police Capt. Kathy Atwood said.

The department’s senior volunteers started looking for stolen vehicles about a year ago, and have found 21 cars and trucks.

The department wanted to expand the project, and now the city’s three code compliance officers get a daily list of stolen vehicles, including descriptions and license plate numbers.

They can chose to look for the cars or not, Atwood said.

“Many areas I go are the same areas where the police end up,” Schmidt said.

If they spot a vehicle on the list, they call 911 and don’t chase after it.

“You don’t need a gun to find a stolen car,” Schmidt said.

The department is looking to add more eyes to the program and has been recruiting apartment managers. Several managers have already signed up to participate, crime prevention officer Steve Paxton said.

Stolen vehicles are often dumped in large parking lots such as those often surrounding apartment complexes. Asking apartment managers to watch for stolen vehicles makes sense, Atwood said.

Schmidt said he’s developed a few tricks, but mainly it’s all about being observant.

“While I’m out there, I keep my beady little eyes open,” he said.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.

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