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 what can happen when a car is left unlocked. The “Lockdown Your Car” campaign, which coincides with National Auto Theft Prevention Month reminds 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

 View the “Lockdown Your Car” TV spot here.

 “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. 

Snapshot of National Night Out Activities: 

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.

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 29^th 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

Both CAAT and CATI 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.

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.