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Stolen vehicle abandoned at Sanders Funeral Home after multi-car theft 

 

COLUMBUS – A vehicle allegedly stolen from a BMW dealership in Asheville was recovered last week in the parking lot of a Columbus funeral home, after being abandoned. 

Last Tuesday, one of four vehicles that were eventually reported stolen was found at Sanders Funeral and Cremation Service on Park St. in Columbus. Officials believe the stolen vehicle was abandoned there after becoming damaged. 

“We noticed it early that morning and called Columbus Police Department right away,” said Randy Sanders of Sanders Funeral and Cremation Service. “It still had the dealer tag on it and was obviously damaged.”

Lieutenant Russell Crisp of the Asheville Police Department confirmed that in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, around 4:18 a.m. seven people broke into the BMW of Asheville. The suspects gained access to the dealership by throwing a rock through a side window and then broke into a safe, taking every set of keys that were contained inside. 

The intruders then entered the dealership’s parking lot before using the key fobs to locate the most accessible vehicles. 

Four cars total were driven off the lot approximately ten minutes after the intruders gained initial access.

According to officials, the vehicle was transported back to the BMW dealership, where it will be repaired. 

The total net worth of the three vehicles that are still missing is nearly $250,000. As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made related to the incident.

Anyone with information related to the stolen vehicles is asked to contact law enforcement.