Van stolen 35 years ago is recovered

The Spokesman-Review newspaper reports that customs agents found the 1965 van on Oct. 19 when they opened a shipping container bound for The Netherlands. They ran the vehicle identification number and discovered it was listed as stolen.

Law officers say the van, which is in pristine condition, was reported stolen from an auto upholstery shop in Spokane on July 12, 1974 -- while Spokane was hosting the 1974 World's Fair.

The van now legally belongs to Allstate Insurance Co., which paid off the original owner's theft claim back in 1974. The original owner has not been identified.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating and turned over the van to Allstate this week.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com