Burien man arrested in Puget Sound vehicle theft investigation

A 28-year-old Burien man was arrested in connection with multiple vehicle theft cases across the Puget Sound region, according to the Redmond Police Department.

Redmond Police said detectives on Wednesday, Aug. 26 arrested Tyrone Fareed of Burien after a months-long investigation. Investigators determined that in many cases, Fareed allegedly arranged to buy vehicles listed for sale through online marketplaces, then provided sellers with fraudulent checks before taking possession of the vehicles.

Fareed was arrested in Bellevue and booked on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, forgery and first-degree trafficking of stolen property, according to police. Redmond police said he also had multiple outstanding felony warrants.

Redmond Police thanked the Kirkland Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Washington State Department of Corrections for their assistance with the investigation and arrest.

Tips for Selling a Vehicle Online

Online marketplaces can be a convenient way to sell a vehicle, but sellers should take precautions to protect themselves from fraudulent checks and other scams.

Redmond Police suggested the following:

• Verify payment before handing over the keys. Contact your bank directly to confirm that a check is legitimate and the funds have fully cleared.
• Be cautious of cashier’s checks. Even checks that appear official can be fraudulent. Do not rely solely on how authentic a check looks.
• Complete the transaction at your bank. Meeting at your bank may allow you to verify funds and complete the transaction in a safer environment.
• Do not hand over the vehicle based on a pending deposit or screenshot. A deposit appearing in your account does not always mean the funds have fully cleared.
• Keep possession of the vehicle and keys until payment has been verified.
• Document the transaction. Keep records of communications, payment information, and the bill of sale. Photograph the buyer’s driver’s license when appropriate and lawful.
• Remove the vehicle’s license plates before completing the sale, as required by Washington law.
• Trust your instincts. Pressure to complete a sale quickly, refusal to meet at a bank, or last-minute changes to the payment method may be warning signs of a potential scam.

“Taking a few extra steps to verify payment and document a transaction can help protect vehicle sellers from becoming victims of fraud,” police said.