PORT ANGELES — Police are hunting for a pickup truck owned by Scarsella Bros. Inc. that was reported stolen with a gun inside after it was left unlocked and idling.
Port Angeles Police Cpl. David Dombrowski said Saturday that police had the serial number of the gun inside the contractor’s 2013 white Ford F-150.
Police did not identity the type of gun inside the pickup.
The truck was taken from the 500 block of East Whidby Avenue just east of the intersection with South Peabody Street at about 6:38 a.m. Friday.
“We’re told [the truck] was unlocked and driven away,” Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
The extended cab truck has a Scarsella Bros. logo on the side, a toolbox in the bed and a light on top of the cab, Smith said.
It’s valued at more than $40,000, he added.
The truck, which had been left running to allow it to warm up, was in use by a member of a construction crew from the Kent-based company that was working on a state Department of Transportation project in the area, Smith said.
Transportation spokeswoman Claudia Bingham Baker said Friday the only state project Scarsella is completing in the Port Angeles area is the widening of U.S. Highway 101 between Shore and Kitchen-Dick roads.
Scarsella also is contractor for the Lauridsen Boulevard bridge replacement in Port Angeles and the U.S. 101 underpass project at Deer Park Road.
Parking ticket possible
Sgt. Jesse Winfield said police get one or two reports annually of vehicles stolen while left unlocked and running in the winter months.
Anyone leaving a running vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition could receive a parking ticket.
Smith said police try to speak with the owner of any vehicle found running and unattended whenever possible.
“We’re trying to discourage people from leaving unattended vehicles in the street,” Smith said.
“Whether it’s a driveway or the street, you’re attracting trouble.”
Anyone who sees the truck should dial 9-1-1 and not approach it, Smith said.
Those with details about the theft are urged to phone police at 360-452-4545.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
