The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, in cooperation with the Colorado State Legislature, has authorized a financial aid program to assist persons who had catalytic converters stolen in Colorado from their vehicles for a limited time, called the Catalytic Converter Assistance Program. Under this legislation, eligible individuals may receive financial assistance toward the replacement of their stolen catalytic converter.
(COLORADO) – A recent analysis by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) and its partners the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) and the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has resulted in the necessary effort to alert consumers of targeted threats against certain motor vehicles.
Most of the vehicles are late model Kias and Hyundais, within the last decade of manufacture, that have traditional ignition systems that are started with a physical key. Criminals are not targeting Hyundais and Kias with touchless FOB ignition as much. Total theft of these makes has increased 82% from 2021 to 2022.
State Patrol and partners have seen an increase in vehicle thefts despite the vehicles meeting the US Market Security Standard for new automobiles. Some major auto insurance carriers are no longer writing new policies on these vehicles. The Colorado State Patrol, CATPA, DOI and DMV want to make Coloradans aware of target hardening options available to current owners of these vehicles – as well as businesses who buy or sell these vehicles.
Vehicle hardening methods are a way to improve vehicle security or deter vehicle theft through additional equipment implantation. Hyundai recently released an announcement that they are rolling out free anti-theft software for several of their targeted vehicles. This free upgrade by Hyundai service centers will include a marking decal to show updated security software on the vehicle. The 2017-20 Elantra, 2015-19 Sonata and 2020-21 Venue models are eligible for the upgrade currently, while other models will be eligible come June. However, the upgrade will not be compatible with all models. Owners of these vehicles wanting more information can contact Hyundai toll-free at 800-633-5151 or Kia at 800-333-4542. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also issued a news release with additional info regarding the update.
CATPA not only recommends this manufacturer update, but also asks owners of these targeted vehicles to consider additional vehicle hardening equipment. Vehicle theft is not only extremely costly to the owner, but to all of Colorado; stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of other crimes and this all leads to increasing insurance premiums. Auto theft hurts all Coloradans. Additional vehicle hardening equipment may come in the form of physical deterrent and theft prevention devices like steering wheel locks, parking boots and other physical vehicle feature limiting devices.
Other recommendations for heightened vehicle security equipment include the installation of aftermarket security systems that provide the physical deterrent features of car alarms and GPS tracking. The CATPA preference for most efficient vehicle hardening upgrade would be to engage a qualified repair facility for the addition of a vehicle immobilizing system. These systems are complex and create several layers of anti-theft security that greatly reduce the rate of vehicle theft, when used.
CO Theft Data – Hyundai and Kia info for the Calendar Year 2022 – Study Sources
Pie Graph 1. The Colorado Department of Revenue for motor vehicle registrations for Hyundai and Kia vehicles occurring from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. Pie Graph 2. The Colorado Stolen Vehicle Database Repository for stolen vehicles reported to the Colorado Crime Information Center from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
Consumers with questions about their insurance can contact the Colorado Division of Insurance Consumer Services Team – 303-894-7490 / DORA_Insurance@state.co..us / doi.colorado.gov (click on “File a Complaint”).
Denver – Friday, March 3, 2023 – Today, the Denver Police Department (DPD) announced a new program to combat auto thefts – DenverTrack. The DenverTrack program works with any vehicle with an installed tracking device, including factory-installed or after-market devices, and GPS and Bluetooth tracking devices to track stolen vehicles in real time.
The program requires vehicle owners to register for DenverTrack to preauthorize Denver Police access to the GPS location data only in the unfortunate event that their vehicle is stolen. If a registered vehicle is reported stolen, DPD will then confirm consent from the vehicle’s owner to access the vehicle tracking information in real time, with the goal of quickly locating and returning the vehicle to the owner and arresting the suspect(s).
“The Denver Police Department is committed to reducing auto thefts in Denver and recognizes the significant impact this particular crime has had on our residents and visitors,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “In 2022, Denver Police officers arrested 1,484 suspects for auto theft, compared to the nearly 14,900 reported stolen vehicles in Denver, which is why having tracking information in real time is vital in retrieving stolen vehicles and holding offenders accountable.”
Vehicle owners can visit www.denvergov.org/DenverTrack to register their vehicle and learn more about the program and additional auto theft prevention tips. Once the vehicle is registered online, DPD will mail DenverTrack stickers to owners to place on their vehicle’s windows to deter potential thieves from stealing their car. Two sticker designs are attached to this press release. Placing a sticker on the registered vehicle is encouraged, but not required. While the program is free to register, a fee from the manufacturer may incur if the GPS system is accessed.
From March 6 to March 10, vehicle owners may visit any DPD district station, between 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., where they will receive assistance in filling out the preauthorization form, thanks to Denver Police volunteers. In addition to receiving guidance with the form, drivers may also obtain a catalytic converter etching kit to deter catalytic converter thefts and license plate theft prevention screws – while supplies last.
DPD wishes to thank the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority for purchasing 10,000 DenverTrack stickers for participants, the Denver Sheriff’s Department for displaying DenverTrack posters in their facilities – alerting arrestees of the program, and RTD for ad space to help raise awareness of the DenverTrack program.
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Our Mission: Preventing crime and increasing public trust while honoring the responsibilities granted to us by those we serve, with continued focus on partnerships, learning, and innovation.
(COLORADO) – Vehicle theft has taken center stage in conversations for many Coloradoans this past year. With auto theft continuing to rise, the Colorado State Patrol and The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) want to provide information and tools to help you protect your vehicle and help us lessen the rate of auto theft.
Preventing auto theft starts with the basics.
The best step you can take to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of auto theft is to lock your car and take your keys, every time. Failure to take this basic step is referred to as Owner Apathy, and according to National Insurance Crime Bureau’s latest report, thefts involving the keys left in the vehicle are up by 20% over the last few years.
Beyond this first step, CATPA always recommends you park your vehicle in a garage or secure parking area, if available to you. If your garage is too full for your vehicle, it’s time to clean it out and benefit from a secure place to store your vehicle. A locked car, in a secure garage drastically reduces your chances of motor vehicle theft.
When you don’t have access to secured parking whether at home, work or anywhere else, CATPA recommends taking extra security precautions to secure your vehicle. Devices such as a steering wheel lock, an aftermarket alarm system, or advanced measures like a vehicle kill switch or immobilizer are possible options. These features are particularly recommended for any vehicle over five years old, and especially for those models found on the Top Ten Most Stolen Cars list.
If you are fortunate to have secure parking and live in a low crime area, auto theft should still be a concern for you! The victim of vehicle theft is not solely the owner. In nearly all cases, stolen vehicles are used as the means to commit other serious and violent crimes including drug use or sales, other thefts, armed robberies, burglaries, assaults and homicides.
In addition to crimes and rising insurance rates across Colorado, auto thieves add to the dangerous driving landscape by notoriously driving recklessly. While committing this crime they display willful disregard to other motorists, pedestrians and laws, speeding excessively, running traffic lights, cutting other vehicles off, passing on the shoulders, and attempting to elude law enforcement. In some instances, they crash causing injury to themselves and other uninvolved motorists.
By making your vehicle a more challenging target for theft, you can help us reduce this crime in Colorado. Please take your keys and always lock your vehicle to bring these numbers down and make Colorado a safer place. Learn about additional ways to prevent auto theft at lockdownyourcar.org
AUTO THEFT INTELLIGENCE COORDINATION CENTER (ATICC)
(U) Purpose: The Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center (ATICC) is a Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) funded initiative that serves the Colorado auto theft law enforcement community. ATICC provides information, intelligence, and analytical judgments on the occurrence of auto theft and its related crimes. The ATICC report includes observations of the crime of statewide motor vehicle theft, with a 5-year comparison, and CATPA regional area statistical data.
Disclaimer: Information contained in the Stolen Vehicle Database Repository (SVDR) is considered dynamic; modifications to records are made on a daily basis. Stolen vehicle records were screened for accuracy and normalized for standardization prior to use in this analysis. Data pulled for the analytical modeling occurred on 23 February 2023 for the ATICC annual reporting for aggregate theft and recovery data. Percentages are rounded to the nearest percent.
Key Findings
Colorado continued to be a leading state in the nation for auto thefts per capita and volume in 2022. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
In 2022, there were 41,520 vehicles reported stolen to the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC), which is the reporting repository for criminal justice reporting utilized by law enforcement agencies in the state. In 2022, 4,371 more vehicles were stolen compared to 2021, accounting for a 12% increase. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
The 41,520 vehicles stolen represents a $380,572,320 average dollar loss in 2022 using the FBI assessed latest average dollar loss per stolen vehicle in the United States at $9,166. (2020 economic data)
In the past five (5) years, the number of reported stolen vehicles has increased 98%. There were 20,946 vehicles stolen in 2018 and 41,520 vehicles stolen in 2022. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
In the past five (5) years, the rate of reported stolen vehicles per capita has increased 93%. In 2018, there were 368 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents compared to 711 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents in 2022. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
The pace of the percentage increase of reported stolen vehicles slowed over the past three (3) years. Motor vehicle theft experienced a 40% increase from 2019-2020, that rate dropped to a 31% increase from 2020-2021, and further to a 12% increase from 2021-2022. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
In 2022, motor vehicle theft data demonstrates that 55% of reported stolen vehicles are recovered outside the municipality where the motor vehicle theft occurred, indicating the crime of motor vehicle theft is a multijurisdictional criminal event. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
Colorado Courts, cases/dockets filed in 2022 indicate that 4,288 (76%) of the 5,610 cases/dockets filed involved other criminal charges related to the motor vehicle theft incident. (Colorado Courts 2022 MVT and Associated Offense Charge Data, 2022)
From the 5,610 cases/dockets filed, 1,322 (24%) contained the sole charge of motor vehicle theft. (Colorado Courts 2022 MVT and Associated Offense Charge Data, 2022)
According to the Colorado Courts data, 11% of cases/dockets filed contained violent crime charges associated to motor vehicle theft in 2022, per the definition of Colorado Revised Statute, “Crime of Violence”. (Colorado Courts 2022 MVT and Associated Offense Charge Data, 2022)
The charge of “F3, Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft w/Two Prior” convictions or adjudications occurred in 5% of the cases/dockets filed. (Colorado Courts 2022 MVT and Associated Offense Charge Data, 2022)
Catalytic converter thefts continued to be problematic in 2022. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), catalytic converter thefts have increased 1,215% nationally between 2019-2022. (National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2023)
In 2022, Chevrolet Silverado and Kia Sportage were the two (2) most stolen vehicles by volume in Colorado. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
The “make” Hyundai and Kia vehicles accounted for 25% (10,318) of all reported motor vehicle thefts in the state. (Auto Theft Intelligence Coordination Center; Stolen Vehicle Database Repository)
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) to combat catalytic converter theft and will be distributing free CatETCH labels to community members. The CatETCH labels each have a unique identifying number that can be applied to a catalytic converter by the vehicle owner or a mechanic. Catalytic converter labeling will allow identification of your catalytic converter in the event it is stolen and later recovered by law enforcement. The unique identification code is entered into a federal database.
Community members are required to complete a registration form, please follow this link (https://forms.office.com/g/2PJS2guCGQ), prior to picking up their kit. During the registration process we will be collecting the community members email address, zip code, vehicle year, vehicle make and model, license plate number, vehicle identification number, and resident’s city. Up to three vehicles can be registered at a time.
After completing the registration process community members will schedule a time and location (from the list below) to pick up their CatETCH kits:
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
5600 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO
Town of Superior Sheriff’s Office Substation
405 Center Drive, Unit F, Superior, CO
Town of Lyons Sheriff’s Office Substation
430 5th Ave, Lyons, CO 80540
The businesses below are willing to install apply the CatETCH kits during a scheduled maintenance for your vehicle. Please contact them directly for specific information, including any associated costs. It is likely your own auto mechanic may be willing to install these kits as well.
Brakes Plus, Superior
90 McCaslin Boulevard, Superior, CO
(720) 304-3343
1040 5th Avenue, Lyons, 80540
303-823-0516
403 Broadway, Lyons, CO
303-823-6760
505 West Main Street, Lyons, CO
303-823-0106
If you have specific questions about this program, you can send an email to
sheriffcattheftkit@bouldercounty.org
“Over the past three years, the rates of car crimes committed in Denver have skyrocketed and include vandalism, catalytic converter removal, gasoline siphoning, and vehicle theft. Although these problems are impacting the entire city, car crimes have been especially prevalent in Northeast Denver neighborhoods.
FBI data compiled by the Common Sense Institute, a non-partisan research group, demonstrates that Colorado has the highest per capita car theft rates in the nation and that Denver has the second highest rates of any city (just behind Bakersville, California). The auto theft rates in Denver have been rising substantially since 2019, and Denver Police Department data shows that the rates have increased by another 80-percent in 2022.”
Following the unfortunate record high Motor Vehicle Thefts reported in Colorado during 2021, Colorado continues to exceed the number of vehicles stolen each month when compared to the previous year. The most recent numbers available, January through May 2022, show an 18% increase this year to date from the record-setting numbers of 2021.
“Police say that while the victim was grabbing his coffee Tuesday morning, a group of teens jumped into his Toyota and started backing out. The victim saw what was happening and chased his truck. The teens got away, but not before crashing into a light-green Honda CRV — that had also been reported stolen.”
“As the morning rush hour wrapped up on Friday morning, Denver agencies noted an unusually low number of accidents in the metro area. The Denver Police Department tweeted out, in part: “You done good, #Denver – we close out the AM rush hour (delay starts included) with just 25 crash reports.”
“Things really took a turn for the worse when he decided it would be a good idea to steal a semitrailer truck and make a run across Colorado’s Eastern Plains.”
“Police want to remind drivers not to leave their vehicles running unattended in the cold weather. Last month, at least 47 puffer cars were reported stolen in Denver.”
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, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
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).
