Teen suspected of arranging car theft

A 17-year-old Eastside youth was arrested this week on suspicion of arranging the theft of his $50,000 BMW so he could collect the insurance money to upgrade to a pricier Bentley, police said.

The teen allegedly worked out a deal with accomplices to steal his white 2002 BMW M3 outside a building in the 10600 block of Northeast Fourth Street, said Bellevue police spokesman Michael Chiu. The teen planned to use the insurance payout to get a more expensive car, Chiu said.

The youth's accomplices took the car Monday night, and the car was reported stolen. Police in Snoqualmie on Tuesday caught four people stripping the car of its parts, Chiu said. An 18-year-old Renton man, an 18-year-old Kent man, a 17-year-old Kent youth and an unidentified fourth suspect were arrested on suspicion of theft.

The men implicated the Eastside teen in the crime. He was arrested at his workplace Tuesday night, Chiu said.

The youth was questioned by police and released to his family. He has not yet been charged with a crime. The Seattle Times generally does not name suspects until they are charged.

Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com