Thieves swipe Miss Wash. crown, sash, car

[February 29, 2012]  EDGEWOOD, Wash. (AP) -- The reigning Miss Washington says thieves made off with her car -- as well as her crown, pageant sash, wallet and four evening gowns.

Pierce County, Wash., sheriff's deputies recovered the car a few miles from Brittney Henry's Edgewood, Wash., home. The thieves reportedly have used her debit and credit cards in three cities. The other loot taken early Tuesday is still missing.

Henry notes the crown and sash say "Miss Washington 2011," which makes them a little hard to fence.

KING-TV reports that when Henry won the pageant, she agreed to spend a year as a full-time volunteer. She travels regularly to schools, visiting with low-income children and talking to them about the importance of a college education.

Henry says it's really the "power of the crown that influences them and makes them open up and listen to the message."

She says she pre-packed her car because she had to leave at 5 a.m. for a pancake house appearance in Everett.

[Associated Press]

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