Coloradans Against Auto Theft, Law Enforcement & Community Partners Join Forces for Summer Auto Theft Prevention Campaign

July 10th, 2018

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Annie Coghill, 303-547-6692
Carole Walker, Coloradans Against Auto Theft Chair, 303-790-0216
Twitter: @StopAutoTheftCO
Facebook: @ColoradansAgainstAutoTheft

Coloradans Against Auto Theft, Law Enforcement & Community Partners Join Forces for Summer Auto Theft Prevention Campaign Statewide Campaign Reminds Coloradans of Heightened Crime Associated with Auto Theft

Denver, Colo. (July 10, 2018) — Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT), along with law enforcement and community partners, today launched their annual statewide public awareness campaign aimed at educating Coloradans about the domino effect that can occur when a car is left unlocked. The “Lockdown Your Car” campaign, which coincides with National Auto Theft Prevention Month, pairs traditional advertising with community events to remind drivers not to make themselves an easy target for car thieves.
“Auto theft is not just a property crime, in fact 97 percent of adults charged with auto theft also commit additional crimes, making it a threat to the whole community,” says Colonel Matthew Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It’s imperative that we educate our communities about the risks associated with leaving their cars unlocked. We are pleased to once again join CAAT and law enforcement agencies across the state for this summer’s Lockdown campaign, and continued auto theft prevention efforts throughout the year.”
The Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) reports that 19,488 vehicles were stolen in Colorado in 2017 – the equivalent of 375 stolen vehicles per week, or 53 per day. Auto theft rates in 2017 were up eight percent over 2016, and 31 percent over 2015 when 14,859 vehicles were stolen. ATICC’s 2017 annual report indicates that Friday and Monday showed the highest volume of auto theft, while Sunday showed the lowest. What’s more, data indicates that there were 1,240 auto thefts in the month of July 2017, up 47% from the month of July in 2014. View the ATTIC 2017 annual report here.

Top 10 Stolen Vehicles in Colorado in 2017 (ATICC):

  1. Honda Civic
  2. Honda Accord
  3. Subaru Impreza
  4. Ford F-250
  5. Chevrolet Silverado
  6. Jeep Cherokee
  7. Ford F-350
  8. Ford F-150
  9. Dodge Ram Pickup
  10. Subaru Legacy

Top Five Colorado Cities for Auto Theft in 2017 (ATICC):

  1. Denver
  2. Colorado Springs
  3. Aurora
  4. Pueblo
  5. Lakewood

 
Campaign Highlights
 .   
The “Lockdown Your Car” campaign, supported by grant funding through the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA), features TV spots, billboards, bus, print, digital radio and digital video advertisements and social media posts that remind viewers of the heightened crime associated with auto theft. The ads offer various examples of how car theft can lead to additional crimes in the community, and ask, “If you knew where auto theft ended, would you start locking your car?” View the “Lockdown Your Car” TV spot here.


What’s more, the campaign features “Thiever,” a fake mobile app for car thieves to scope out their next steal. Modeled after popular dating apps, Thiever is comprised of profiles of the top stolen cars in Colorado, encouraging thieves to “swipe right,” or steal the car. The profiles range from static images to animations that show a gloved thief swiping through the posts. They include messages that imitate dating profiles and describe easy-to-steal cars, such as, “Sun’s out and my windows are down. What more could you want?” Each profile will be shared on CAAT’s Facebook and Twitter pages with an accompanying auto theft fact.
“With no seasonality to auto theft, this summer’s Lockdown campaign is part of our year-round effort to spread awareness about what car owners can do to prevent their own cars from being stolen and used to commit other crimes,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and CAAT chair. “In addition to traditional advertising, a big focus of this year’s campaign is to participate in more community events to engage with and educate Coloradans on a more personal level.”
 
National Night Out
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. On the evening of Tuesday, August 7, CAAT’s coalition partners will be hosting local NNO events across Colorado, featuring safety and crime prevention information. Citizens are encouraged to attend events in their neighborhoods, while leaving their porch lights on as a national symbol against crime.
 
Snapshot of National Night Out Activities:
Broomfield Police Department
The Broomfield Police Department will discuss auto theft prevention and awareness during the City of Broomfield’s National Night event from 5-8:30 PM on Tuesday, August 7 at the Broomfield County Commons Park, located at 132 Sheridan Boulevard. Annually, the event attracts more than 2,000 attendees and is one of the largest National Night Out events hosted by a City and County in the Denver metro area.

City of Wheat Ridge
The City of Wheat Ridge will host their annual National Night Out event on the evening of Tuesday, August 7 at Hayward Park, located at West 29th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. The event will feature fun for kids and families, including vehicle tours, a meet and greet with officers, and crime prevention and safety information. They will also share auto theft prevention tips on Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor over the course of the month.

Grand Junction Police Department
The Grand Junction Police Department will be attending neighborhoods registered for National Night Out events. Officers will speak to safety and crime-related issues in the community, as well as offer tips on prevention.

Visit NNO’s website or Facebook page for general NNO information.

Colorado State Fair
To demonstrate how auto theft is a tool to commit additional crimes, CAAT will bring their “Kilo Car” to the Colorado State Fair August 24-September 3. The Kilo Car is a full-sized vehicle frame constructed of materials that look to be different types of drugs, representing the shocking truth that auto theft is a gateway crime and a safety concern for the whole community. More details about the Kilo Car’s exhibit at the Colorado State Fair will be announced in August.
 
Auto Theft Prevention Tips

  • Never leave your car running unattended
  • Lock your doors every single time
  • Always park in well-lit areas
  • Don’t keep a spare set of keys in the car
  • Put gifts and all valuables in the trunk hidden from view
  • Buy comprehensive insurance that covers stolen vehicles
  • Report suspicious activities to a non-emergency police line

CAAT Coalition Partners
Colorado auto theft task forces, made up of regional law enforcement agencies, Colorado State Patrol and other motor vehicle safety and insurance partners, are a part of CAAT’s coalition to decrease auto theft during this peak season.

  • CATPA Metropolitan Auto Theft Team (CMATT)
  • Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement (BATTLE)
  • Colorado Attorney General’s Auto Theft Prosecution Initiative
  • Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI)
  • Colorado Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC)

About Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT):
CAAT is a statewide auto theft prevention initiative to raise awareness about the problem and educate the public on what they can do to reduce their chances of falling victim to auto theft. CAAT is part of a coalition of law enforcement agencies, the Colorado State Patrol, the Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI), 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).
 
About Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA):
CATPA is a state authority that was established by Colorado statute in 2003 to help reduce Colorado’s serious auto theft problem through the award of grant funds. The Colorado law helps ensure that auto theft prevention efforts are targeted. These efforts have resulted in an increase in stolen vehicle recoveries and criminal prosecutions of major organized criminal groups, as well as related crimes.

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VIDEO: "Kilo Car" represents what happens when your car gets stolen

May 1st, 2018

Did you know Colorado has one of the highest auto theft rates in the nation, with an average of 53 cars stolen every day? What about that 97% of adults charged with auto theft also commit additional crimes, such as armed robbery, identity theft, home invasion and drug crimes? Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT) created the “Kilo Car” to educate Coloradans about the importance of simply locking their car to deter auto thieves.

Neighborhood Where Deputy Was Killed is Colorado Springs' Auto-Theft Central

March 4th, 2018

The apartment complex where El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Micah Flick was killed during an attempted auto-theft arrest is at the heart of a city neighborhood most afflicted by motor vehicle thefts in 2016, a Gazette analysis of the latest full year for which census data was available.

Murray Hill Apartments, at Murray Boulevard and Galley Road, is in census tract 60, the boundaries of which stretch from Academy Boulevard east to Babcock Road, and from East Platte Avenue north to Palmer Park Boulevard. It’s where 60 of the city’s 1,828 motor vehicle thefts in 2016 happened, tying for highest in the city with tract 21.02, which intersects in the southeast at Pikes Peak Avenue and Chelton Road.
Overall, there was a 23 percent jump in car theft in 2016 from 2015, leading to a more robust effort by the Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement, or BATTLE, task force. The group of officers was designed to reduce thefts, catch prolific offenders and eliminate crime rings. Funding for the task force doubled to $1.2 million that year, increasing again this year to $1.4 million, grant applications show.
Source: The Gazette – CO. Springs
READ THE FULL STORY

‘Kilo Car’ Covered With Fake Heroin And Fentanyl As Warning To Drivers

March 2nd, 2018

DENVER – Police departments and organizations in Denver trying to reduce car thefts unveiled a “Kilo Car” covered in fake drugs this week to highlight the problem of stolen vehicles across the state leading to other serious crimes.
“I think that it’s making a statement,” said Jill Blake, while walking by the display. “If you let your car get stolen, it could be possibly used for drug money.”
Just minutes after Coloradans Against Auto Theft revealed the car in a parking lot at 14th Street and Stout, people kept stopping to take a closer look. Many passing by said they always lock their cars and were surprised this was a common cause for stolen vehicles in Colorado. Organizers of the “Lockdown” campaign say up to 50 cars are taken each day across the state.
Source: CBS4 Denver
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Assessment of Motor Vehicle Thefts in Colorado 2017

February 15th, 2018
The Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) has prepared the following assessment regarding the occurrence of motor vehicle theft in Colorado, during the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.
Data used in this report is sourced from the Colorado Stolen Vehicle Database Repository administered by the ATICC. The repository contains records of all stolen and recovered vehicles entered and removed from the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC).

   Read more here

When 'Puffers' are Stolen, the Community Pays

January 27th, 2018

There’s good news and bad news for Puebloans who have their running and unattended vehicles stolen by opportunistic thieves.
The good news is the vehicle owner likely won’t have to pay higher insurance rates or premiums on their comprehensive insurance, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the theft.
The bad news — in addition to the fact the victim has lost their car, which, in many cases, will be used to commit other crimes — is that by adding to the crime trends of the area, the cost of insurance increases for everyone in Pueblo.
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
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Puffer Week Underway to Spread Auto Theft Awareness

January 25th, 2018

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Dropping temperatures prompt many of us to warm up our cars before we take off, but by leaving them running, unlocked and unattended, we could be setting ourselves up for the worst.
This is called “puffing”, and it’s against the law.
Currently, a statewide initiative called Puffer Week is underway, which is a way of reminding drivers of the consequences.
Source: westernslopenow.com
READ FULL STORY HERE

Law Enforcement & Community Partners Join Forces for Colorado Puffer Week

January 22nd, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Krista Silano, 303-832-2700 ext. 211
Carole Walker, Coloradans Against Auto Theft Chair, 303-790-0216
Twitter: @StopAutoTheftCO
Facebook: @ColoradansAgainstAutoTheft

Law Enforcement & Community Partners Join Forces for Colorado Puffer Week
Statewide “Puffer Week” Campaign Reminds Coloradans that Cars Left Running Unattended are an Easy Steal

Denver, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2017) — Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT), along with Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI), today launched their annual statewide educational and enforcement campaign, known as “Puffer Week.” The campaign runs today through Sunday, January 28 and informs the public about the illegality, risks and consequences of “puffer cars” – or cars left running unattended. Puffer cars contribute to Colorado’s growing auto theft problem, and they are often involved in subsequent crimes, such as armed robbery, home invasion and drug-related offenses.
“Puffer Week aims to remind drivers that the consequences of puffing their car can go beyond getting in trouble with the law or having their car stolen,” says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and CAAT chair. “Ninety-seven percent of car thieves charged with auto theft are also charged with additional crimes. The campaign drives home the point that the simple act of leaving your car running unattended can result in a domino effect that contributes to the rise in Colorado’s crime rate and puts the community at risk.”
The Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) reports that 18,047 vehicles were stolen in Colorado in 2016, up more than 20 percent from 2015. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 40 to 50 percent of vehicle theft is due to driver error, which includes leaving vehicle doors unlocked and leaving keys in the ignition or on the seats. While auto thefts can happen anywhere and at any time, they spike in the winter when people are more likely to puff their car to warm it up, and thieves look for the tell-tale puff of the exhaust on a cold day.
Puffing your car – or leaving it running unattended – is illegal in Colorado*. During Puffer Week, law enforcement increases warnings and citations to those caught puffing their cars, with the first offense costing guilty parties a $60 fine. This week, law enforcement and CAAT partners will put a focus on educating communities throughout Colorado on how to prevent auto theft by distributing informational flyers and Lockdownyourcar.org branded ice scrapers, as well as leveraging social media to share important messages and tips. More, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will display auto theft and puffer car awareness messages on Variable Message Signs (VMS) placed in urban areas throughout the state.
“Last year during Puffer Week, law enforcement gave out over 350 warnings and citations to Colorado drivers caught leaving their cars running unattended, but we know that many offenders got away with it,” says Bill Johnson, President of the Colorado Auto Theft Investigators. “Our hope is that this year’s public awareness campaign will encourage car owners to do their part in taking the necessary steps to prevent their own cars from being stolen and used to commit other crimes.”
Puffer Week Highlights
    
To demonstrate why puffer cars are attractive to car thieves, CAAT created “Thiever,” a fake mobile app for car thieves to scope out their next steal. Modeled after popular dating apps, Thiever is comprised of profiles of the top stolen cars in Colorado, encouraging thieves to “swipe right,” or steal the car. The profiles range from static images to animations that show a gloved thief swiping through the posts. They include messages that imitate dating profiles and describe a puffer car, such as “if it’s cold, I’m puffing. So you can come-a-knockin’,” and “your mother will love me. Especially if she’s a car thief.” Each profile will be shared on CAAT’s Facebook and Twitter pages this week with an accompanying fact about auto theft.
Media ride-alongs available upon request.
For Puffer Week ride-along opportunities, please contact your local law enforcement or Colorado State Patrol PIOs, or Krista Silano on behalf of Coloradans Against Auto Theft at 303-832-2700 ext. 211 or krista@ameliecompany.com.
Winter Public Awareness Campaign
 .   
CAAT’s winter public awareness campaign, which runs through March, features high-profile TV spots; billboards; bus, print, digital radio and digital video advertisements and social media posts that portray how car theft can lead to additional crimes. The ads ask viewers, “If you knew where auto theft ended, would you start locking your car?” View the “Lockdown Your Car” TV spot here.
How Can You Avoid Auto Theft?

  • Never leave your car running unattended.
  • Lock your doors every single time.
  • Always park in well-lit areas.
  • Don’t keep a spare set of keys in the car.
  • Put gifts and all valuables in the trunk or keep hidden from view.
  • Buy comprehensive insurance that covers stolen vehicles.
  • Report suspicious activity to a non-emergency police line.
  • Use our Hot Spot map to see if there have been auto thefts where you live or work.
  • Follow the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) “Layered Approach” to Protection.
  • Find out what the top stolen vehicles in your region are here.

Both CATI and CAAT are funded by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA), a statutory grant program that supports law enforcement, prevention and training programs through the collection of $1.00 for every insured vehicle.
For more information about auto theft in Colorado, visit www.lockdownyourcar.org and the “Lockdown Your Car” Facebook and Twitter pages.
*A Colorado law that went into effect in August 2016 exempts vehicles with a remote-start from being ticketed if found running unattended. However, drivers must keep the keyless start fob far enough away from the car that the vehicle can’t be moved.
CAAT Coalition Partners
Colorado auto theft task forces, made up of regional law enforcement agencies, Colorado State Patrol and other motor vehicle safety and insurance partners, are a part of the CAAT coalition to decrease auto theft during this peak auto theft season.

  • CATPA Metropolitan Auto Theft Team (CMATT)
  • Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement (BATTLE)
  • Colorado Attorney General’s Auto Theft Prosecution Initiative
  • Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI)
  • Colorado Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC)

About Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT):
CAAT is a statewide auto theft prevention initiative to raise awareness about the problem and educate the public on what they can do to reduce their chances of falling victim to auto theft. CAAT is a coalition of law enforcement agencies, the Colorado State Patrol, the Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI), 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).
About Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI):
CATI is a non-profit association of public, law enforcement and insurance industry investigators concerned with the prevention and investigation of motor vehicle thefts and kindred crimes; to promote the exchange of investigative information; and to create a forum for better communication among investigators in Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Region, and the Nation.
About Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA):
CATPA is a state authority that was established by Colorado statute in 2003 to help reduce Colorado’s serious auto theft problem through the award of grant funds. The Colorado law helps ensure that auto theft prevention efforts are targeted. These efforts have resulted in an increase in stolen vehicle recoveries and criminal prosecutions of major organized criminal groups, as well as related crimes.

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Denver Couple Has Two Cars Stolen in Four Months

January 17th, 2018

SOURCE: 9NEWS.com ::
The most recent theft happened one morning in December in the back alley of Nate and Vanessa Boyer’s Highlands home.
Someone drove off with Nate’s Dodge Rebel pickup, which he runs a construction business out of.
“It was about 7 in the morning and I was just making coffee. And I heard the trash can get hit and I thought, that’s odd because it’s not trash day,” Nate said. “About 30 minutes later I came out and obviously the truck was gone.”
READ MORE HERE

Denver Saw Big 2017 Jumps In Car Thefts, Meth Arrests

January 17th, 2018

SOURCE: Colorado Public Radio ::
Denver is dealing with double-digit increases in car thefts and meth arrests — and experts say the two are linked.
According to Denver Police Department data, in 2017 there were 5,371 car thefts, up 13 percent over 2016. Methamphetamine arrests are up 31 percent in 2017, with police reporting 1,171 possession offenses in the Mile High City.
These crime statistics are for the city of Denver, but the problem stretches across the Front Range. Pueblo had the second most car thefts per person in the U.S. in a recent national insurance report.
READ MORE HERE

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