Vehicle theft climbed throughout Colorado last year, soaring almost 30 percent from the previous year, a spike that follows years of declines.
Car thieves snagged just less than 15,000 vehicles across the state in 2015. “We are starting to see those trends spike again,” said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.
Auto thefts declined between 2000 and 2011, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, then climbed slightly before 2015.
Overall crime also increased across Colorado in 2015, according to a CBI report released recently.
Often thieves use the vehicles in the commission of other crimes, Walker said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing crime go up across the board in Colorado. Many of those crimes involve, or start with, stolen vehicles. That is part of what is driving that trend.”
Denver led the state in the number of auto thefts, with 4,005, an average of almost 286 each week. Colorado Springs ranked second, followed by Aurora, Pueblo, Lakewood, Adams County and Thornton.
People often leave their cars running and unattended, or with the engine still but keys in the ignition, Walker said. Thieves are looking for easy targets.
The most frequently targeted vehicles are the Honda Civic and Honda Accord. Parts, and the cars themselves, are sold on the black market.
Car theft rings are frequently responsible for numerous thefts. Busting one ring can bring down the total number dramatically, Walker said.
