This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Police are investigating the theft of a moving van and an apparent arson fire that gutted the vehicle in Salt Lake City early Wednesday morning.
Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Jasen Asay said firefighters were dispatched to a report of smoke pouring from a Budget rental van at 656 S. Fulton St. about 7 a.m.
"Police cleared the area because this scene was reported as a possible meth lab. Once it was determined that this was not a meth lab, [fire] crews extinguished the fire," Asay said.
The blaze gutted the truck's cargo area, which turned out to contain some belongings — others, including computers, furniture and clothing were missing — of a woman who had rented the vehicle only to have it stolen Monday night from the parking lot of a Draper motel.
Draper police are handling the investigation into the stolen van, as well as an attached Subaru Outback (Utah license No. 388UJR) that remained missing.
Draper police Sgt. Chad Carpenter said the van had been reported stolen after its renter found it missing at the Springville Suites, 12111 S. State St., about 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, SLCFD investigators believe the fire was intentionally set either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Draper police at 801-840-4000.
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