"The Impact of a Stolen Car Crash on Centennial Elementary School"

Details of the Car Crash

According to reports, a stolen car was driven into the Graham school around 5 a.m. on Thursday. The 911 caller witnessed two cars doing donuts in the parking lot and then heard a loud bang. Another witness saw the car crash into the building and two to three people run out and get into a white sedan before driving off.

Deputies responded and found the car left inside the school with the engine running. They contacted the owner and confirmed that the car was stolen out of Spanaway. A video shows that the suspects appear to be young adults or teens. After backing the car through the front doors of the building, they immediately took off.

Aftermath and School Operations

The car has been towed out of the school, and the school is open for classes on Thursday. Despite the incident, the school is continuing with its educational activities. The sheriff’s department is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact them.

Citizens can also make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers on their app, website, or PCSD’s app on Apple or Android. This shows the community's commitment to ensuring the safety of the school and its students.

Auto Theft Statistics in Pierce County

According to the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force, approximately 386 cars were stolen in Pierce County in September. This is a significant number and highlights the issue of auto theft in the area.

However, there has been an improvement compared to 2023. "There has been a decline in the number of auto thefts compared to this time last year," the task force wrote in its report. "We believe this is due, in part, to several key arrests of 'Kia Boyz' who were operating throughout the region and stealing numerous vehicles each week."

Statewide and National Perspective

As of October 2024, there have been 22,029 vehicles reported stolen statewide, which is down 11.8% compared to 2023. Nationally, 2024 is on pace to be the first year car theft has dropped since 2019, as there was a record-breaking 1,020,729 vehicles stolen in 2023, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

These statistics show that while there is still a problem with auto theft, there are efforts being made to address it and reduce the number of thefts.