The young Bremerton resident had poured much time and money into his 2003 Hyundai Elantra: He’d tinted its windows, installed an elaborate stereo system complete with bass-beating subwoofers, and added cold air intake and exhaust systems and strut bars.

His story is unfortunately all too common. It’s one of hundreds in Kitsap County and one of thousands in Washington, which ranks fourth in the country in automobile theft.

When he awoke the morning of April 10, thieves had worked their way into his residence and attached garage. Though it was locked, his car inside wasn’t, and he’d left a set of keys on the floor in the truck.

Though Kitsap’s car theft numbers remained steady from 2004 to 2005, the state’s numbers increased 14 percent - from about 43,000 thefts in 2004 to 49,000 in 2005.

But it is Kitsap’s growth, combined with its proximity to King and Pierce counties - where 60 percent of the state’s auto thefts are carried out - that gives it the greatest potential for rising auto theft.

"Kitsap County is the dumping ground for King and Pierce counties," said Matt McMillen, an auto theft detective with the Washington State Patrol. "When things get too hot and too heavy (for thieves), they come here. It’s just across the bridge but it’s a world away."

Elaborate and well-organized networks of thieves steal cars in Pierce and King counties, either breaking down the cars to sell parts or selling them to residents or even dealers by swapping vehicle identification number - or --VIN - plates inside cars, he says.

It’s a lucrative business that currently doesn’t have much of a penalty for perpetrators. Thieves in general must be caught taking about six cars - yes, six - before even facing a year’s jail time, according to the state’s sentencing guidelines.

"You can be a career criminal and it’s going to be virtually impossible for us to get a reasonable sentence," said Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge.

Car theft is also a difficult crime for police and prosecutors to prove, McMillen said. So his detachment has since pursued nailing offenders with other charges, such as taking a vehicle without the owner’s permission, possession of stolen property and trafficking stolen property.

If McMillen and company can prove more than three felonies were committed and there are at least three culprits, a charge of "organized crime," can be tacked on.

Luckily, Kitsap’s car theft scene hasn’t developed the expansive networks that plague King and Pierce counties, McMillen said. Car thieves here operate in far more rudimentary fashion, generally taking an unguarded car simply to get from point A to point B, or to try and turn a quick buck to fund their next methamphetamine purchase, he added.

"A lot of (offenders) aren’t just car thieves," he said. "We’re also putting away the guy who’s stealing your mail, cooking meth and breaking into your house."

Their multifaceted nature as criminals can spell trouble for a victim, however, as car thieves here tend to look for other items as well, such as credit cards, drivers licenses and other ID used for identity theft.

"For the victim, probably the most unsettling thing isn’t the inconvenience of losing your car," said Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. "It’s having to deal with the subsequent problems of things you’ve left in the car. It can be a nightmare."

But in many of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office reports, the victims and the perpetrators even know each other, said Scott Wilson, deputy spokesman.

"It’s just not that common for stolen vehicles (to come) out of the blue," Wilson said. It almost always is ‘some dude,’ they know or the ex that’s getting revenge."

The approximately 600 people who have their cars stolen annually in Kitsap, including Daignault with his Hyundai and Slagle with his Blazer, would undoubtedly agree with McMillen on that point.

Slagle’s Blazer was discovered in the middle of the night about 11 days after it was stolen. The officer who found it was David Hughes of Bremerton (see story to left).

It had been "run into the ground" - driven until it was out of gas - by the perpetrators and dented on several sides. They took everything in the car of value: the stereo, various tools and even the plastic cup holder from the center console.

But Slagle did get it back in working condition and learned a few lessons in the process. Among them: Even if your car’s parked inside a garage, lock it.

It had been crashed, smashed up, picked apart and beaten until it was destroyed. The thieves had used Daignault’s own tools to cut up his seats, bash in all his windows and lights, slash the tires and dent the exterior. They stole most everything of value in the vehicle that was easily accessible, including most of his stereo equipment.

After an initial insurance payment, he is also out about $5,000, and loses more money each time he fills the gas tank of his backup car. His 1988 Jeep Cherokee gets about 20 miles to the gallon less than his Elantra.

The ordeal has taught him certain lessons: Park in well-lit places. Double-check your car to make sure it’s locked. And definitely don’t leave the keys inside.

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