The Colorado State Patrol announced that car thefts in 2024 have decreased by 30% since 2023.
Car thefts have plagued the Front Range for years. Law enforcement offices have been working to reduce the number of thefts. They have reached out to vehicle owners for help, encouraging them to lock their cars and to remove valuable items from their vehicles.
In 2022, Colorado recorded 14,698 car thefts in the first four months alone. The number decreased to 11,643 in 2023 and has further reduced to 8,109 in the same time period in 2024.
Longmont’s trends have differed slightly from the state data. In 2022, Longmont recorded 129 thefts in the first four months. In 2023, that number increased to 142 during the same period. So far, the Longmont Police Department only has data from January to March with 69 thefts.
“The noticeable decline of auto theft is a testament to the resiliency of our citizens and the collaborative effort of many law enforcement and key partners across the State,” stated Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “However, now is no time to relax your vehicle securities. That would be exactly what auto thieves are hoping for to make their crime easier. Stay in this fight with us to reduce auto theft and overall crime in your communities.”
The Colorado State Patrol Office encourages vehicle owners to research their car’s potential vulnerabilities to implement additional safety measures.
Taking these measures and simply locking your car and removing extra keys from your car can prevent your car from being stolen. Often stolen cars are used in other crimes including burglary, robberies, reckless driving, drug crimes and eluding law enforcement.
