Three new vehicles stolen from Fairbanks dealership

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- Thieves early Thursday morning made off with three new vehicles from a Fairbanks auto dealer.

Two $45,000 Toyota Sequoias and a $22,000 Toyota Camry were driven off the lot of Auto Service Co. on South Cushman Street.

General manager Dave Shuttleworth said the culprits broke in through the back of the shop, went through a garage and cut keys off a lock board.

''They knew where they were,'' Shuttleworth said.

Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. security employees working across the street called Fairbanks police after two vehicles were seen leaving the lot at 4:30 a.m., police said.

All three vehicles were gray and lacked license plates.

The dealership has suffered previous thefts. Shuttleworth said a new Subaru WRX was stolen last summer. The vehicle was found in Anchorage a week later with juveniles driving it, Shuttleworth said.

The car was returned to Fairbanks and sold with ''800 more miles on it than they usually have,'' he said.

Shuttleworth said the dealership is working to install extra security measures.