Stolen Car Recovered In Kemp

KEMP—It was a day to relax and get in some fishing for a Cedar Creek Lake area resident, his wife and young daughter March 10.

The family wanted to find a "good spot" when they noticed a gate missing on the levee on the east side of Kings Creek Bridge on State Highway 274 near Kemp.

The road is very narrow and heavily wooded, so they decided to hike back along the creek. Almost a mile into the woods, they discovered a white 2000 Buick four-door sedan, with a current handicap placard still in place.

The steering column was heavily damaged and the ignition was out of the column. No other damage was noticed.

The man called 9-1-1 about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, reporting the vehicle to authorities.

A check revealed the car was reported stolen out of Van Zandt County over the past weekend.

The Kaufman Sheriff’s Department and Kemp Police were on the scene, and Van Zandt crime scene investigators also responded to the remote area.

Near 5 p.m., the car was hauled out by a Kaufman wrecker company, but not before some anxious minutes as the truck carrying the car got stuck on the heavily rutted and narrow levee road.

Kemp Police Officer Steve Crowley said the car likely was left there by the perpetrators, who may have intended to come back.

"It looked like it (the damaged steering column and ignition) was done by someone who had done this type of thing before," he said.

The car was moved to a secure location in Kaufman where it will be further examined, he added.