Sean C. Morgan
Linn County Sheriff’s Office arrested two last week in connection to a vehicle reported stolen from Sweet Home on Oct. 14.
The owner reported the theft of his 1992 Honda Accord at 9:46 a.m. from the 1200 block of 23rd Avenue, said Police Chief Jeff Lynn. The vehicle was recently purchased from All-Star Auto, and All-Star had installed a tracking device. All-Star pinged the vehicle and provided an estimated location.
All-Star pinged the vehicle and provided an estimated location near Allbee Lane and Knox Butte Road in Albany.
Deputies located the vehicle and arrested Zachary Johnson, 21, of Portland and Stefani Brock, 24, of Sweet Home for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle at 10:12 a.m. Additionally, Johnson was charged with driving while suspended, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree theft and attempted second-degree theft.
The theft charges stem from the removal of stereo equipment from the vehicle, said Linn County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Flint Lebard.
The case is one of eight stolen vehicle reports since Sept. 1 and part of a recent outbreak in thefts countywide, Lynn said, although it seems to have declined in Sweet Home.
The coun-tywide problem has affected Lebanon, Albany and the rural parts of the county, Lynn said. “Every agency has experienced it.”
“We’re seeing a downturn. We believe a number of people who are responsible are in custody at this time – not all on stolen vehicle charges.”
“Months ago, we were having several show up in the Millersburg area,” Lebard said. “It’s kind of slowed down.”
Investigators believed that it was work being done out of Salem, Jefferson and possibly Albany, Lebard said.
Vehicles reported stolen since Sept. 1 include four Hondas, two Ford pickups, a GMC SUV and a Toyota Corolla, Lynn said. One remains missing, a 1990 Honda Civic.
“Hondas are just easy to enter and easy to steal,” Lynn said.
In the Millersburg thefts, most of the stolen vehicles were Hondas, Lebard said.
The past six weeks have boosted the number of stolen vehicle reports this year to 26, Lynn said. In 2013, the department received 19 reports of stolen vehicles, down from 22 in 2012 and 21 in 2011, while in 2010, the department handled just 10 stolen vehicle complaints.