Chances are, you’ve either had a car stolen yourself, or you know someone whose car has been taken. Colorado State Patrol recently released a 2021 Auto Theft Data that indicated a worrying all-time high car theft across Colorado. Since 2017, Colorado has experienced an 88% increase in automobile thefts, representing 36,932 more cases. And since 2019, the data shows that motor vehicle theft in the U.S state has increased by 82%. These Colorado car thieves primarily target Honda Civic, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-series trucks, and Honda Accord.
Most car thefts in the area result from two significant reasons; car owners leaving car keys in their vehicles and drivers leaving the car running (puffing), especially during the cold season. Criminals then use most of these stolen vehicles to commit other crimes. Police urge residents to report any case of car thievery to the police immediately. Reporting helps police track down and recover stolen cars in Colorado by entering the missing cars into a database. But to protect your vehicle from thieves and onlookers, police recommendation is to use ignition lock or anti-theft devices. You can also install a remote car starter. Taking the necessary theft prevention measures early enough helps because there is a high likelihood that if your car goes missing, it will facilitate other crimes and probably get damaged.
The Colorado Metropolitan Automobile Theft Task Force (C-MATT) is made up of seven agencies: Adams County SO, Aurora PD, Colorado State Patrol, Denver PD, Jefferson County SO, Lakewood PD, Wheat Ridge PD. These departments work together to stop car thefts, and supply statistic for thefts. On Average, about 75 cars go missing each day in the Denver Metro Area. That’s up from 55 just a year ago. In the last year C-MATT shut down 7 Chop Shops.
What can you do?
Lock your Doors.
Many thieves will just lift handles until they find an open car, and then, if they find the keys inside, the car is gone.
Buy The Club
It may not be 100% fool proof, but most car thieves will move past if they see a club. It’s a time consuming process to get them off, and the next car is an easier target.
Get an Apple AirTag or Tile Tracker.
Using an ap on your phone, you can see where your car is at any moment. It may not keep your car from getting stolen, but it will help recovering your car easier. Some cars come with GPS units and other tracking, but that can be fooled by driving under a bridge, or parking your car in a garage. Tiles and AirTrackers use other technology that may be able to pinpoint your vehicle. Note: Many police agencies will not go after a car in motion, and will make you wait until it is stopped to report it. And it can be very unsafe to chase after a car thief your self.
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