Jeep returned to owner; police say charges won't be filed
<p>This 1954 Willys Jeep station wagon, which was reported stolen on Monday, was located Tuesday and expected to be returned to its owner.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - A 1954 Willys Jeep station wagon that was reported stolen was located Tuesday morning, the owner said.
Longtime Coeur d'Alene resident David Kees, 63, said he hoped to pick the classic Jeep up later in the day. It was located in Garwood, which is north of Hayden on the west side of U.S. 95.
Coeur d'Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood said the business hired to tow the vehicle tipped police off to who had the vehicle.
Both Kees and Wood said there was some misunderstanding or dispute about the ownership of the Jeep that led to the alleged theft.
Wood said, "I don't see any charges being filed at this point."
Kees, whose hobby is restoring vehicles, said he has owned the vehicle for about a year.
The vehicle would be worth about $15,000 to $18,000 once it's restored, he said. It was currently worth about $2,000. The Press incorrectly reported the value Tuesday as $600.
Kees said he built his first Jeep in 1968.
"I've always been a Jeep guy," he said.
He moved to Idaho in 1973 in a Jeep he built.
"It was just me, a Jeep, a canoe and a dog," he said.
The 1954 Willys Jeep was allegedly stolen last weekend at Kees' property at 1013 Hill Drive.
He said the stolen vehicle has an older Ford flathead V-8 engine, and has a tow bar attached to the front bumper. It also has custom chrome wheels.
He said the person who stole the vehicle used the tow bar to pull the vehicle from his property.
The reddish Jeep left rubber skid marks where the vehicle had been towed onto the street.
"It was pretty gutsy," he said.