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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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 Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject: STOLEN: 1987 Vanagon Westfalia (Seattle) **FOUND** |
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Van was found 12/17/13 ~ see pages 6+ for more info.
FROM VANAGON MAILING LIST
from a post forwarded by owner, MAD MAXINE on Facebook.
time stamp puts the theft between @12:00-2:00 PM Today, 11-30-2013
WA PLATE: 010 YJP
STOLEN: Our van was stolen in the last 2 hours from in front of the house in Ballard. If you see a dove blue (medium blue) 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia camper van in the Seattle area, please call 911 and report it. It has some reflective letters that say "Googlestan" on the back of the pop up camper part.
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Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!
Last edited by carterzest on Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:14 pm; edited 7 times in total |
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danbar
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2011
Posts: 464
Location: North Bend, WA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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This is getting ridiculous. Needless to say I'll have my eyes open as this is my neighborhood. Of all the cars I've owned I never thought my Vanagons would be the ones I'm most worried about getting stolen.
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'88 SCA High/Pop-top Syncro camper
'61 Meyers Manx |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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WTF is going on in the PNW with all of these vans being stolen?
I am blown away and really feel for all of these poor owners.
Damn  |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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adamjjohn203
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2012
Posts: 187
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Installing kill switch ASAP!
I'll keep a lookout... Sorry and good luck!
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'87 Westfalia
2000 Volvo V70 "eVOLVOd" |
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tam_shops
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Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1530
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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What's the count on this now? And, more than one blue one too.
I hope it shows up in a few weeks in the same parking lot(s) as the others...
It's just like mine, so easy to watch out for and makes me not want to go to Seattle too!
tam
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1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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Vinzanto
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Joined: March 22, 2012
Posts: 247
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Man Ballard seems like such a chill little corner of Seattle and the sheer number of Vanagons stole from the Seattle metro this year alone is staggering. I hope you find it soon. Those fiends will pay!
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg |
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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| tam_shops wrote: |
What's the count on this now? And, more than one blue one too. I hope it shows up in a few weeks in the same parking lot(s) as the others...
It's just like mine, so easy to watch out for and makes me not want to go to Seattle too!
tam |
I am pretty sure this is #6, but it may be #7. Whatever # it is, even 1 is TOO MANY 
I PM'd Kam about starting new individual threads for these and she agreed, as long as the format is consistent, this is good information to relay and, easier for all of us to track and not relay bad information. I think this is #4 or 5 stolen recently just in the Seattle area  It was getting really confusing as they were all on the thread for the one in Albany OR which was recovered in Vancouver, WA.
If anyone knows the owner personally, please inform her of this thread. I did send Mad Maxine a PM on Fakebook.
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AndyBees
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Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2331
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Sadly, I'm afraid these stolen Vanagons are being stripped with parts dumped on the re-cycle market.
Also, as someone posted, druggies! They need the cash to feed the habbit.
2012, Labor Day weekend, I got hit. They cleaned out my barn and an old Bay Bus loaded with Vee Dub parts. Finally, this past Monday the dude got 5 years and has to pay restitution.
Also, just this past Sept, the local water board shop was hit and the theives got a Ford 350 4-door truck, trailor and excavator. Fortunately, the Tennessee state police recovered all of it one month to the day!
Many more stories of theft of vehicles.
As stated, kill switch, GPS tracking, etc.
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a long ways away, but have installed 24 hour surveillance with multiple cameras and angles at my shop.
I have BEEN ripped off in the past....not any more.
My Buddies who are NY State Troopers swing through after dark on a regular basis too.
They always text me when they see a Vanagon, other than me driving around...its kinda cool 
As they have shared with me and I have posted previously...check with all local gas stations and retail establishments with cameras on roadways near where the van was stolen.
Ask to scan the footage for your van.
Any lead will help the police out.
Last edited by insyncro on Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vanonimous
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Joined: October 19, 2013
Posts: 362
Location: Burien, Center of the Universe
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Lately vans are getting stolen in Seattle left and right. Thefts of such specific vehicle could be connected but then again we support and protect such high number of losers here it could just be average statistics. I'll keep my eyes out.
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tam_shops
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Joined: November 15, 2012
Posts: 1530
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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At first I thought that it was just a consequence, but no sooner is one found, then another gone...Earlier today someone was asking where to get paint/body work done in Seattle as he'd just gotten his back and they'd banged it up and now it needed to be painted (Fresh coat of paint all around is a bit of a Silver Lining at least). So, when I read that this morning and then this afternoon another one missing, I no longer think of it as a coincidence, though still wonder how they're stealing them as I've yet to read about anyone having to replace the ignition and/or locks...
Such a shame. Such a violation. If they want one, they could just go and buy one for flip sakes!
tam
| vanonimous wrote: |
| Lately vans are getting stolen in Seattle left and right. Thefts of such specific vehicle could be connected but then again we support and protect such high number of losers here it could just be average statistics. I'll keep my eyes out. |
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1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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| Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| vanonimous wrote: |
Lately vans are getting stolen in Seattle left and right. Thefts of such specific vehicle could be connected but then again we support and protect such high number of losers here it could just be average statistics. I'll keep my eyes out.
| tam_shops wrote: |
At first I thought that it was just a coincidence, but no sooner is one found, then another gone...Earlier today someone was asking where to get paint/body work done in Seattle as he'd just gotten his back and they'd banged it up and now it needed to be painted (Fresh coat of paint all around is a bit of a Silver Lining at least). So, when I read that this morning and then this afternoon another one missing, I no longer think of it as a coincidence, though still wonder how they're stealing them as I've yet to read about anyone having to replace the ignition and/or locks...
Such a shame. Such a violation. If they want one, they could just go and buy one for flip sakes!
tam |
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I missed that today. Perhaps you could get that owner to chime in on this thread?
For the record Folks, this is not my van. I have PM'd the owner on Fakebook and invited her to add more pictures here. I merely posted it to help spread the word, and, because I have 2 of these and would expect you all to do the same for me
| AndyBees wrote: |
| Sadly, I'm afraid these stolen Vanagons are being stripped with parts dumped on the re-cycle market. |
The ones stolen in the Seattle area recently have been found locally, most with curtains closed, and seem to have been used as mobile theft storage and tweaker hideout/home base. Most were found in tact with minor damage other than every cubby being rifled through. If anyone reading this is one of those previous victims, please post up some details. Were the plates removed/switched? Any idea on how they got in? This appears to have been a mid day event…. Those who may have payed a bit more attention to the recent theft details than I, please add anything of merit to help out the cause.
Thanks for looking out folks.
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FNGRUVN
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Joined: October 27, 2007
Posts: 2237
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:20 am Post subject: |
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At this point, I think the term "kill switch" should take on a whole different meaning.
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insyncro
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| RV meth lab...Jesse and Walt's popularity may be giving people bad ideas. |
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teej
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Joined: November 26, 2010
Posts: 897
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I have been following these local to me theft threads with sad interest. The one thing in common I see is that the thieves are not professionals, just opportunistic, and the vans seem to have been parked on the street, and the majority seem to be north Seattle somewhere, not downtown/metro. Simple means of disabling or slowing a theft would probably add a measure of security and cause the thieves to move on. I agree that additional details from the victims of recovered vans may help to figure out how/what is happening. I will be on the lookout, again, as I make the rounds.
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1986+ Wolfsburg Weekender Pop-Top 2.3 WBX Manual Trans |
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jimeg
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Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 510
Location: PNW
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DAV!D
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Joined: September 10, 2013
Posts: 979
Location: EL CAMINO
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| insyncro wrote: |
| RV meth lab...Jesse and Walt's popularity may be giving people bad ideas. |
Why would it seem so centralized around the PNW if that was the cause? I don't think I've seen a single van posted as stolen on this forum, since I joined that wasn't in the PNW. |
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wecm31
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Joined: August 05, 2012
Posts: 358
Location: Eganville, Ontario
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 10:45 am Post subject: |
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| DAV!D wrote: |
| Why would it seem so centralized around the PNW if that was the cause? I don't think I've seen a single van posted as stolen on this forum, since I joined that wasn't in the PNW. |
Possibly same group of punks with a similar MO...
It often happens that certain vehicles become commonly stolen in certain
cities for awhile. Once one tweaker figures out (or learns) its green wire
to red, touch the black to ground (whatever). then he tells two friends and so on and so on....
A few years back it was Civics in Ottawa, Camaros in Winnipeg...
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Gerald P
1985 Vanagon (Betty) & 1985 BMW R80RT (Wilhelm)
vintage boxers!!
Gone are the days we stopped to decide
Where we should go, we just ride:) |
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gl98115
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Joined: April 22, 2011
Posts: 263
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 11:01 am Post subject: |
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Seattle is pretty popular for stolen cars. I had my Subaru stolen from North Seattle a few years back. They drove it around for a couple days and abandoned it on a neighborhood street a couple miles away. Based on the trash left inside, they used the car to go shopping.
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2011 Top 20 cities for auto theft
2011 Ranking / 2010 Ranking
1. Fresno, Calif. 1
2. Modesto, Calif. 2
3. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. 3
4. Spokane, Wash. 4
5. Yakima, Wash. 10
6. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, Calif. 9
7. Stockton, Calif. 7
8. Anderson, S.C. 33
9. Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif. 5
10. Visalia-Porterville, Calif. 8
11. Detroit, Mich. 12
12. Seattle/Tacoma, Wash. 13
13. Sacramento, Calif. 6
14. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. 21
15. Albuquerque, N.M. 20
16. San Diego, Calif. 15
17. Oklahoma City, Okla. 25
18. El Centro, Calif. 27
19. Las Vegas, Nev. 17
20. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. 18 |
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