By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

The Bonney Lake Police Department will be participating in an auto-theft task force beginning in November.

The department will provide an officer for the task force and the cost will be covered by a $1 million grant awarded to the project.

Assistant Chief Dana Powers, who is leading the project for Bonney Lake, said the task force will “focus on auto theft across jurisdictional boundaries. Since we are so close to the line we wanted to make sure we are working with our neighbors.”

Powers said auto-theft crimes today are usually committed by rings.

“They are not going joy riding,” Powers said. “It is usually a group on a crime spree.”

The ring begins with stealing a car, then commits a series of crimes like burglary. Stopping auto thefts often puts the brakes on other crimes.

The state ranks in the top five nationally for stolen vehicles.

“The task force is focusing on a problem that affects a lot of people,” Police Chief Mike Mitchell said. “Joining forces is a good way to make an impact and it saves money. That is one of many grants we are working on.”

Mitchell said the officer will begin on the task force Nov. 15. The force will be made up of six officers and one supervisor.

Other agencies involved are Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Renton and the King County Sheriff’s Department.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.