The Lynnwood Food Bank’s van (Photo courtesy the Lynnwood Food Bank)

Update at 8:15 p.m.

The Lynnwood Food Bank’s van was recovered on Monday evening, after being reported stolen Monday morning.

After sharing the information on social media, it was discovered the suspects began the evening at Silver Creek Family Church, located at 5326 176th St. S.W. in Lynnwood. After breaking into locked areas, they took a key box that contained the key to the Lynnwood Food Bank’s front door and van. After they stole the van, they returned to Silver Creek Family Church and took the church’s safe, iPad and other items.

Community members later reported several sightings of the vehicle in the Queen Anne area of Seattle.

“We also received a phone call from a concerned citizen that saw the Food Bank van dumping garbage down a hill in Queen Anne, and in the garbage what appeared to be a microwave oven. We believe that the microwave oven may very well have be the Silver Creek Family Church safe,” said Alissa Jones, director of the Lynnwood Food Bank.

The food bank was contacted by Lynnwood Police at around 4:30 p.m. and was notified that the van had been located near Aurora Avenue and 125th Street. The van was towed by Lincoln Towing and was in drivable condition, according to Jones.

Since the front door key to the food bank was stolen, it has been re-keyed. Tri-City Locksmith performed the service for free.

Previous coverage from 1 p.m.:

The Lynnwood Food Bank is asking the local community to keep an eye out for its van.

The van was stolen from outside the Lynnwood Food Bank building at 5:45 a.m. Monday. According to the Lynnwood Police Department, the incident was captured on surveillance video. Two suspects removed crates from the van before driving away at around 6 a.m.

The van is marked with Lynnwood Food Bank signage. According to Alissa Jones, director of the food bank, the van is a white 1997 Chevrolet Express with Washington license plate B45897V.

“The theft of our van greatly impacts our program of serving supplemental groceries to our community,” Jones said. “We use the cargo van for our Grocery Rescue program, picking up donations from grocery stores six days per week. The Grocery Rescue program is a huge part of the Lynnwood Food Bank’s operations which fed 12,630 Lynnwood households and 39,053 Lynnwood individuals last year.”

The Grocery Rescue program is the source of most of the Lynnwood Food Bank’s fresh and frozen goods, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, deli and meats.

Anyone who sees the van is asked to call 911 or contact the Lynnwood Police Department at 425-670-5600.