AURORA | Officials today launched a new effort to crackdown on auto theft and Gov. John Hickenlooper named this week “Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Week.”
A group called Coloradans Against Auto Theft launched a program called “Lockdown” on Tuesday which they said is aimed at educating the public about ways to decrease auto theft.
“Lockdown demonstrates that Colorado is unified in its efforts against auto theft,” Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and CAAT co-chair said in a statement Tuesday. “It empowers citizens to protect themselves by taking even the simplest of actions: locking their car.”
In Aurora, auto theft has been dropping steadily in recent years. Here is a link to a story we did last month on the subject.
Click below for the full release from CAAT.
Colorado Statewide Task Forces Putting Auto Theft on Lockdown
Governor Proclaims “Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Week,”
February 13-19, 2011
Denver, CO — Together with law enforcement agencies, insurance companies and community partners, the newly formed Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT) coalition is working to put the brakes on auto theft. Although Colorado has seen a steady decline in auto theft, more than 12,000 vehicles (source: FBI) are stolen each year and are increasingly part of serious criminal enterprises that involve other crimes, such as illegal drugs, homicides and identity theft.
Lakewood Chief of Police Kevin Paletta attributes much of the decrease in the number of stolen vehicles in Colorado and in Lakewood to the support from the state’s Auto Theft Prevention Authority and the multi-jurisdictional auto theft task forces that pool resources to crack down on auto theft. “Our task forces work beyond city and county borders to recover stolen vehicles and prosecute organized crime groups,” says Paletta. “But that’s not enough. Many times, auto theft is a preventable crime. We really need the public’s help to prevent these thefts and apprehend the offenders.”
To that end, CAAT is launching “Lockdown,” a statewide auto theft prevention initiative to educate the public on what they can do to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of auto theft. “Lockdown demonstrates that Colorado is unified in its efforts against auto theft,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association/CAAT Co-Chair. “It empowers citizens to protect themselves by taking even
the simplest of actions: locking their car.” CAAT’s public awareness efforts include coordinated statewide education campaigns, enforcement efforts and a new consumer- focused auto theft prevention website, www.lockdownyourcar.org, that has everything from current auto theft trends to victim support, testimonials and current coalition efforts to prevent auto theft in Colorado.
A recent statewide poll conducted by Talmey-Drake Research shows one in five Coloradans engage in risky behaviors such as not locking cars, keeping additional keys in the car, leaving cars running, or parking in dimly lit, low-traffic areas—all of which provide an open invitation to would-be thieves.
The poll also reveals that although 40% of Coloradans know someone who has had a car stolen, only 8% are concerned about their own risk of auto theft. “The low level of concern about auto theft among the general public shows a disconnect from what is happening in our state,” says Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Lt. Colonel Scott Hernandez. “We want people to understand: this could very easily happen to you. By stealing your car and its contents, thieves potentially have access to your home, your business and even your identity.”
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper proclaims February 13-19, 2011, “Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Week.” For more information on the Lockdown campaign and ways to prevent auto theft visit www.lockdownyourcar.org.
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Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT) is a coalition of law enforcements agencies, insurance partners, LoJack and AAA Colorado. CAAT and the state auto theft task force efforts are funded in part by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA).
Background information:
Findings from statewide survey of Coloradans by Talmey-Drake Research:
- 40% of Coloradans know someone who has had a car stolen yet only 8% are concerned it could happen to them.
- 1 in 5 engage in risky behaviors such as not locking cars, leaving additional keys in the car, leaving cars running or parking in dimly lit, low-traffic areas.
- 40% admit to leaving car running while unattended (nearly 50% are unaware this is illegal in the state of Colorado).
- more -
What can you do?
- Always lock your car.
- Never leave your car running unattended.
- Never leave any keys in the car, even a spare set.
- Never leave valuables in plain sight.
- Always park in well-lit, high-traffic areas.
- Get windows, doors and fenders etched with the VIN.
- Consider installing a tracking and recovery device.
Colorado Puffer Week results, January 16-22, 2011
Law enforcement conducted education and enforcement for cars being left unattended while running. While risky, “puffing” is also illegal. Here is a sample of results.
Englewood Police Department: 50 warnings
East Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force (EMATT) with partnering agencies:
· Aurora Police Department: 58 summonses; 105 warnings; one felony arrest
· Commerce City Police Department: 189 warnings
· Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office: 104 warnings
· Douglas County Sheriff’s Office: 86 warnings
Proven success – recent highlights
Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force (MATT): Denver District Attorney’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Denver Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police Department, Wheat Ridge Police Department and the Westminster Police Department.
December 2010: A Craigslist ad for wheels off a stolen car led a metro-area police task force to an Adams County towing company now implicated in a chop-shop operation. MATT used a search warrant to discover more than 20 allegedly stolen vehicles and stolen parts.
January 2011: A Denver Grand Jury has returned a 103-count indictment naming eight co-defendants in a major auto theft ring that targeted victims across the Denver-metro area. The indictment alleges that their common goal was to buy, sell, trade and barter stolen property and money in exchange for controlled substances, primarily methamphetamine. There are approximately 70 victims with identified losses of about $578,000.
East Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force (EMATT): Colorado State Patrol, Arapahoe County and Douglas County Sheriff’s Offices, Commerce City Police Department
February 2011: Officers with the Denver and Greenwood Village Police Departments as well as an EMATT investigator received silent homing signals from a stolen Subaru. LoJack Police Tracking Computers (PTC) installed in patrol cars led officers to the stolen vehicle parked at a hotel. When the thieves came to retrieve their stolen prize, they were arrested. The second car they arrived in was also a stolen vehicle. As the result of one LoJack hit, two stolen cars were recovered and two crooks were charged.
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