It looks like Snohomish County might be the worst place in the state for car thieves.
That’s because the Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force has been recognized as the best team statewide for tracking down stolen vehicles, arresting those responsible and helping make sure the bad guys are convicted.
On Nov. 5, the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority recognized the Snohomish County team as the Auto Theft Task Force of the Year, the first time the award has been presented.
The Snohomish County team was selected from five other similar teams “due to the impacts that they have made in Snohomish County since forming in October of 2008,” said Snohomish County sheriff’s Lt. Brent Speyer, the team’s commander.
In the first half of 2009, vehicle thefts statewide were down 20 percent but in Snohomish County the reduction was 45 percent, Speyer said. Statistics show that the trend is continuing.
During the team’s first year, they tallied up impressive results. Nearly 100 people were convicted, about $680,000 worth of stolen vehicles were recovered along with another $337,400 worth of stolen property.
The team broke 31 theft rings and 24 chop shops, Speyer said.
The team is made up of detectives from the Washington State Patrol; Monroe, Marysville and Lynnwood police departments; and the sheriff’s office. The Snohomish County prosecutor’s office also has a specially assigned prosecutor and secretary to help prosecute suspects the team arrests.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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