Stolen Spokane van turns up on L.A. cargo ship 35 years later

LOS ANGELES -- Authorities have recovered a stolen 1965 Volkswagen Bus after it disappeared 35 years ago in Spokane.

It was found last month inside a cargo ship container at a Los Angeles seaport by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents.  The bus is in pristine condition, right down to the gear shift, the white steering wheel and the original speedometer.  And it still runs.

Nothing seemed odd as it sat in a cargo container on a ship bound for the Netherlands.  Agents ran the VIN number and learned the bus was reported stolen in Spokane on July 12, 1974.  According to the original police report, the complainant, Joseph Bauer, says he brought the bus to a local shop for work.  But the bus somehow went missing and was never seen again.

On Thursday, officers tracked down the listed owner which turned out to be Allstate Insurance.  The actual owner made a claim and was paid when the bus disappeared.  That means Allstate Insurance owns whatever is recovered, even if it is more than 35 years later.

Allstate Insurance told KREM 2 News they just learned about the stolen bus and are trying to track down the original owner.

If you recognize the vehicle, let us know by emailing us at newstips@krem.com.