Crime Tracker: Pasco Auto Thefts Up

The KEPR Crime Tracker identified a spike in stolen cars in Pasco. The number has nearly doubled from last year to this year.

It may look like your everyday neighborhood, but a neighborhood in east Pasco has had the most car thefts in the city so far this year.

“I’m not surprised because in the Tri-Cities it happens all the time,” said Terry Martinez.

Terry Martinez has lived in Pasco her whole life. She says a friend just had his car stolen a few weeks ago. Her brother was also a victim of theft. His car was later found at a chop shop.

“He reported it and they found it in Yakima that was months later and it was junky and stuff,” said Martinez.

KEPR pulled the numbers from Pasco police and found in the first half of last year there were 44 stolen cars. For the same period this year, it nearly doubled. 75 were taken. We took it one step further to narrow down the five streets that had the most hits:

1. North 24th
2. North 4th
3. West Bonneville
4. West Lewis
5. West Shoshone

All in the east part of town right where Karina and her mom live.

“We know they’ve stolen her stereo out of her car once or twice, they repaired the windshield and they broke it again. I’m very surprised,” said Karina Centeno.

We walked up, down and in between W. Lewis and W. Shoshone, the were the main streets that were hit this year, but most people we talked to here don’t leave their car doors locked or windows rolled up because they think someone can’t do something as simple as this.

Despite the stats, Karina doesn’t think she lives in a more dangerous area than others.

“Maybe it’s just the area where you live you probably don’t hear about it, on 68 or Richland, but it happens anywhere, people want to steal their going to steal,” said Karina.

Police say you can avoid most of these attempts by keeping your doors locked and windows rolled up, even when it’s hot outside.

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