Auto thieves strike Wasilla

WASILLA -- Upon opening Tuesday, employees at two Wasilla businesses discovered burglars had made off with two trucks, a vintage Corvette and tens of thousands of dollars in equipment.

At 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a burglary at Pro Auto Service, located on the frontage road near Mile 37.5 Parks Hwy. Investigators found that someone had broken into the business and stolen computers, office equipment, power tools, hand tools and cash.

According to trooper investigator Leonard Wallner, the stolen items included the following brand-new PowR-Quip equipment: a 3.8 kilowatt generator valued at $1,450; a semi-trash water pump valued at $929 and an air compressor valued at $1,400. Also stolen were 12 to 15 hand-held electronic automotive diagnostic devices said to be valued at approximately $5,000 each and a large, red Mac toolbox of automotive tools. The owner estimated the weight of the toolbox with tools at about 500 pounds, and the value at approximately $5,000.

The burglar or burglars that hit Pro Auto also reportedly stole a Mazda pickup truck and a 1975 Corvette from the business. Both the truck and the Corvette were recovered with little or no damage later the same afternoon. The truck was found on a trail off of Grumman Drive, and the vintage sports car was discovered on the road to the Houston dump near Mile 59 Parks Hwy.

Less than an hour after the Pro Auto call, troopers answered a report of another auto theft at a business only a half-mile away from Pro Auto Service. Investigators found that someone had entered the gated yard at Custom Truck of Wasilla and stole a red 1994 Chevrolet pickup belonging to an Anchorage man.

According to Wallner, the Chevrolet truck, which was tuned and ready for the customer to pick up, had no tailgate and was reportedly equipped with a plow on the front. Wallner said that the suspects rammed the gate to the business's yard with such force upon leaving that one side of the gate was taken completely off the hinges, doing more than $3,000 in damage.

Wallner said there is evidence to indicate that the same suspects are responsible for both crimes, and that both cases are still under investigation. Troopers are requesting that anyone with information about these burglaries call the Palmer troopers at 745-2131, or Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.