Grant will fuel Lakewood's anti-car theft campaign

The state awarded the City of Lakewood more than a half million dollars this week to establish a countywide automobile theft task force. Lakewood will be the lead agency, but Tacoma, Fife, Puyallup, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and other jurisdictions are expected to join. Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar said the $530,000 grant from the Auto Theft Prevention Authority will help pay for new resources, including: /n Hiring a Pierce County prosecutor to handle only auto thefts. /n Hiring a Lakewood Police detective to investigate only those crimes. /n Renting a centrally located space where police countywide can coordinate their efforts. /n Buying an automated license plate reader video system that can inform patrol officers whether a vehicle is stolen. The money, Farrar said, will allow police... [read full story]