Posted: 4:49 pm PST November 9, 2009Updated: 6:27 pm PST November 9, 2009
SPOKANE -- After a VW Van stolen 35 years ago from Spokane was found in Los Angeles last week, the search was on to find its owner. This weekend the owner was found right here in the Spokane area.
Michele Squires has been working at the Cathay Inn on Division Street for more than 30 years. On Monday she drove to work in her Chrysler. Back in 1973 though she drove to work each day in her 1965 VW Van.
Sometimes cars can become almost like a member of your family and that’s how Michele Squires felt about that VW van. In the first year she owned it she took the van skiing, camping and even taught her brother and sister how to drive in it.
“I think its called Beloved now, and that’s who taught me to drive my Drivers Ed teacher was named Beloved,” Michelle said.
Unfortunately her beloved VW Van was stolen in the summer of 1974.
“I was working on the seat in the back and I was trying to make a fold out back,” Michelle said.
One day she took the van to an upholstery shop near Brownes Addition and never saw it again.
“I never thought I'd get it back,” she said.
Miraculously the van resurfaced when custom agents found a blue and white VW Van in a shipping container bound for the Netherlands. It was the same blue and white van Michele had stolen from her 35 years ago.
“The memories are my brother and sister learning how to drive a stick in it and going skiing in the van … many fond memories … I loved the car,” she said.
In fact Michelle says she loved that van so much when it got stolen she went out and bought another one.
Now that her van has been found Michelle believes there’s a higher power at work here helping someone find her stolen VW Van after all these years.
“My mom passed away this year and I think it was my mom, she is saying I found your van Mickey,” Michelle said.
Michelle doesn't know if she will be able to get it back as the insurance company has held ownership of the vehicle since it was stolen. However she says if she can get it back she plans to throw a party and give everybody rides in it and then take the van on a road trip to Disneyland.
