JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. – Gone are the days where you can leave your car unlocked in Jackson—especially with the keys in the ignition. Ditto for Wilson, apparently.
Police responded to a report of a missing van Thursday morning around 9:30 am. A resident reported a minivan parked overnight at a business in Wilson was stolen sometime that evening. The keys had been left in the vehicle.
Deputies gathered information on the van and entered it into the National Crime Information Center database. Within minutes, Teton County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a “delayed hit confirmation,” meaning a police agency had run the plate prior to it being reported stolen.
It turned out that 21-year-old woman of Bozeman, Montana, had been stopped by West Yellowstone Police earlier in the day driving the stolen van. The women was arrested on unrelated misdemeanor warrants and taken to West Yellowstone Police Department. Shortly after, she was able to post bond and was released. Police took her back to the stolen minivan where she then drove off north towards Bozeman.
West Yellowstone police had no idea the van was stolen as it had not been reported yet and the driver had the keys.
Another “hit” was received indicating a Big Sky, Montana police officer had run the plate approximately two hours later. Officers there were provided information on the suspect and vehicle and returned to the area. They located the women still in possession of the stolen van and arrested her.
The women is being charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in Montana and charges of felony auto theft are pending in Teton County, Wyo.
Nearly all auto thefts reported in Teton County involve keys being left in vehicles. NEVER leave your keys in your vehicles.
