Caught on Camera: Denver Man’s Truck Stolen Despite Attempt to Stop Thieves
A surveillance video captured the dramatic theft of a 1999 Toyota 4Runner in Denver, highlighting the dangers of leaving a vehicle unattended while warming it up—a practice known as “puffing.” The incident occurred on the day before Thanksgiving at the intersection of Utica Street and W. 13th Avenue.
Braydon Garcia, 21, was preparing to take his roommate to the train station and had started his truck to heat it up. Standing near the front door of his home, he heard the engine revving unnaturally. “I threw my shoes on real quick and ran out,” Garcia recounted. He saw two individuals switching from their vehicle into his, and despite his efforts to intervene, the thieves sped off. “I was halfway in the car when they started taking off,” Garcia said. “Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t get fully inside.”
The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) analyzed the video, noting the pair’s coordinated actions. “This is a typical scenario,” said CATPA’s Cale Gould. “Unlocked vehicles with keys inside are prime targets.” Data from CATPA shows nearly 33,000 vehicles were stolen in Colorado last year, a drop from 2022’s 42,000 but still a significant problem.
Gould advises drivers to use hardening systems like steering wheel locks and to avoid confronting suspects during thefts to ensure personal safety. “Colorado has an exceptional vehicle recovery rate—upwards of 85% annually—well above the national average,” Gould added.
Garcia hopes his truck, an older model vulnerable to theft due to the lack of modern immobilizer systems, will be among those recovered. Anyone who spots his 1999 Toyota 4Runner is urged to contact Denver Police.
Victims of auto theft can seek assistance through the Colorado State Patrol Victim Assistance Program, which helps alleviate costs such as towing, impound fees, and damage repairs.
