News - Local News - On Patrol

POSTED: Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008

Bellingham police cruiser stolen outside the Royal

BELLINGHAM - A Bellingham police cruiser was stolen Sunday night, Nov. 30, while an officer was responding to a call outside the Royal Restaurant & Lounge.

The officer had parked the 2006 Ford Crown Victoria in an alley near the restaurant, with the engine still running, while responding to a potential fight around 10:45 p.m., said Bellingham Police Lt. Steve Felmley.

When the officer returned to where he had parked, the patrol car was gone.

About 11:45 p.m., police found the car abandoned on C Street near Roeder Avenue with its emergency lights on. Two radio microphones, estimated to be worth $400 to $500, were taken from inside, and the car's right rear tire was flat, Felmley said. The thief could not unlock or get access to weapons in the car.

The Bellingham Police Department does not have a policy that deals with locking police vehicles when officers leave them, Felmley said, because sometimes officers need to jump out of their cars quickly to chase suspects.

If caught, the thief faces a felony theft charge among others charges.

Anyone with information relating to this crime is asked to call the Bellingham Police Department at 778-8804.