Car thieves target high school auto body shop 3 times

SEATTLE -- Ingraham High School is one of two schools in Seattle where students can learn to fix and detail cars at an auto body shop.

It’s a rare opportunity for hands-on learning.

“It’s interesting and it gets people into it,” student Emma Newton said.

But lately thieves are making it harder for Ingraham High School students to keep their auto shop in business.

“What they did was they just smashed in the glass,” teacher Chris von Ravensberg said.

Last week, thieves broke in and grabbed a box full of car keys. They stole four cars,  including a BMW they used to bust open the front gate.

Three of the four stolen cars have been recovered after the thieves abandoned them near the school.

“I’m worried about them coming back and, yeah, doing more damage,” von Ravensberg said.

Von Ravensberg added that his auto shop has been targeted not just once but three times.

Surveillance cameras outside captured the latest break-in. It shows four people early Saturday morning snooping around. The suspects cut a lock off the front gate to get onto the property but they left empty-handed.

“If you were to walk in front of this camera, it sets an alarm,” von Ravesnberg said.

Now there are cameras inside his shop with this note for the thieves.

“I said smile, police are on their way,” von Ravensberg said.

The teacher believes several of his former students could be involved in the crime spree.

“It makes me more sad, it hurts my heart,” von Ravensberg said.

The heartless thieves and damage left behind will cost the shop about $10,000.

“Everything is expensive; the school district doesn`t have the money,” he said.

And it could cost the students a chance to advance their education.

“There aren`t that many programs like this so it’s pretty upsetting,” Newton said.

Many of the cars in the shop are donated but students are responsible for generating money to keep the program going.

Seattle Police are still looking for a white four-door Saturn.