Twice-stolen car found submerged in Napoleon

7/1/2005

NAPOLEON A car that was stolen twice in less than a week was found submerged in the Maumee River near a city park, authorities said.

They believe the car was purposefully driven into the river by the same thieves who took it earlier in the week, Napoleon police Lt. Bruce Weirauch said.

The car was first reported stolen Saturday from West Clinton Street, a residential area where the car had been parked with the keys inside it. The car was found a few blocks away, but several items including the keys were missing.

Police believe the thieves returned Tuesday morning and used the keys to take the car again, Lieutenant Weirauch said. The car was recovered Wednesday in the river near East Riverdowns Park, where a headlight from the car was found earlier near a ball diamond fence that the vehicle apparently had struck.