Thief swipes Auburn Police van; police recover it on Mercer Island

Mercer Island Police recovered a stolen Auburn Police Department SUV – a black and white Chevy Tahoe with a loaded police rifle inside – Monday morning.

Reporter staff

A thief jumped the fence around the Auburn Police Department parking lot Sunday evening and stole a police SUV with an assault-style rifle in the back.

Police officers throughout Western Washington searched for the black and white Chevy Tahoe, which was found later on Mercer Island.

“It was recovered at a construction site,” said Auburn Police Cmdr. Mike Hirman. “All the equipment and everything was in there. Wires had been pulled from under the dash, so it appeared the guy hotwired it. We had it towed back here and will process it.”

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“We had shut down the lap top and WiFi in the car,” Hirman added, “and there was a gun secured in a locked compartment, but there was no way he could get at it.”

Hirman said the thief damaged the exit gate when he left the parking lot.

The vehicle was stolen around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to police.

’I can’t think another incident of cars stolen at the police department, but somebody got a thrill out of stealing a police car,” Hirman said.

As of Monday morning, the thief’s identity was unknown.

An investigation continues.