This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Thieves made off with three cars in Cottonwood Heights that were left alone and warming up Monday morning.
Police urge people to not leave their cars idling and unattended, making them easy targets. The three people who did Monday, lost their rides within about two hours of each other.
The first report came in about 5:55 a.m. from the Pinnacle Highland Apartments, near 2100 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 South). The thief took off with a silver 2004 Honda Accord with Texas plates, said Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Dave Broadhead.
Then around 7:30 a.m., a grey 2002 Nissan Altima went missing from the Santa Fe Apartments near 1500 E. Fort Union Blvd (6900 South). Its license plate is Y401SF.
Then at 8:10 a.m., a white Acura TSX was stolen from a home near 7100 S. 2800 East, with the license plate A925VH, Broadhead said.
Investigators suspect that an auto theft ring is responsible. The thefts occurred too soon and too close together to likely be the work of one person, Broadhead said.
Police are asking anyone who sees the stolen vehicles to call either the Cottonwood Heights Police Department at 801-840-4000, or if they see the car on the roadway, to call the nearest law enforcement agency.
All three cars are makes and models that are frequent targets across the valley, Broadhead said.
"They're easy to chop up for parts or do VIN switches on," he said.
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