‘The first incident of its kind in the area’: Gas theft sparks car fire at Bellevue apartment complex

Bellevue police are investigating a gasoline theft that went dangerously wrong, sparking a car fire at an apartment complex over the weekend.

Around 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, officers were dispatched to reports of a vehicle on fire in the 5400 block of Village Park Drive Southeast, according to Bellevue Police Department (BPD) spokesman Drew Anderson. When officers arrived, Bellevue Fire crews were already on scene working to extinguish the fire.

“The preliminary investigation determined that the suspect, or suspects, were attempting to steal gasoline from the vehicle, which caused the fire to ignite,” Anderson said.

The heat from the flames was so intense it detached the vehicle’s drive line, causing the car to roll down a small hill within the apartment complex and collide with another parked vehicle. The second vehicle sustained damage, but only the original car was seriously damaged, according to Anderson.

Despite the dramatic scene, no one was injured.

Unusual crime in a generally safe city

While gas prices have been high, Anderson said gas thefts are not a common problem in Bellevue.

“This is definitely something that is out of the ordinary,” Anderson said. “This is the first incident of its kind the department is aware of in the area.”

Still, police are concerned about the danger to public safety posed by this type of crime and want to identify those responsible.

“We want to know more information about who would do this kind of crime,” Anderson said. “Public safety is the strength of Bellevue. We do everything possible to keep this community safe.”

Call for tips and prevention advice

BPD is asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area that morning, or who has information about the suspects, to call the department’s non-emergency line at 425‑577‑5656.

Residents are encouraged to take basic precautions, such as keeping vehicles locked and monitoring parked vehicles, especially overnight. They are also recommended to use onboard cameras or dashcams when available, share any relevant footage with police, and report suspicious activity promptly.

“Bellevue is a safe community, but crime does happen,” Anderson said. “When it happens, we want to be notified so we can hold those responsible accountable.”

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