Contact Information
Rita DavisFort Collins Police Services
970-221-6628
Don’t let your car become a holiday target for thieves.
Leaving a car running and unattended (locked or unlocked) in the winter months is not only illegal, it’s also a good way to get it stolen.
Sure. Most people prefer getting into a warm car when the outside temperatures are chilly. Yet image the shock of returning to find your car and all its contents stolen by an opportunistic thief. It takes less than a minute to get into a car and drive off.
Vehicle thefts tend to spike in cold weather months and many of those thefts could have been prevented simply by not leaving your unattended vehicle running. The puffs of exhaust from your car may be all it takes to catch the attention of a car thief.
“Puffers”, the term given to cars left running unattended in winters months, is illegal in Colorado and in Ft. Collins carries a fine of $25. “Puffers” also adds unnecessary emissions to our air.
Leaving your vehicle unattended and running, locked or unlocked, is against Colorado law and an open invitation to car thieves. Most people never think it will happen to them, yet according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and other officials:
• 50% of all stolen cars have the keys inside,
• 40% of Colorado residents have left their cars running unattended at some point,
• 35% of Colorado residents were unaware that “puffing” was illegal.
• 40% of Colorado resident know someone whose car was stolen, and
• Cars are most often stolen for parts, not the entire vehicle.
To deter crooks:
• Lock your vehicle and take the keys with you.
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even for a minute.
• Never hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight.
• Consider installing an anti-theft device such as an alarm, an immobilizing device (kill switch), or a tracing device (i.e. LoJack).
Additional information on Colorado auto thefts and “puffers” may be found on-line at www.lockdownyourcar.org.
Leaving a car running and unattended (locked or unlocked) in the winter months is not only illegal, it’s also a good way to get it stolen.
Sure. Most people prefer getting into a warm car when the outside temperatures are chilly. Yet image the shock of returning to find your car and all its contents stolen by an opportunistic thief. It takes less than a minute to get into a car and drive off.
Vehicle thefts tend to spike in cold weather months and many of those thefts could have been prevented simply by not leaving your unattended vehicle running. The puffs of exhaust from your car may be all it takes to catch the attention of a car thief.
“Puffers”, the term given to cars left running unattended in winters months, is illegal in Colorado and in Ft. Collins carries a fine of $25. “Puffers” also adds unnecessary emissions to our air.
Leaving your vehicle unattended and running, locked or unlocked, is against Colorado law and an open invitation to car thieves. Most people never think it will happen to them, yet according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and other officials:
• 50% of all stolen cars have the keys inside,
• 40% of Colorado residents have left their cars running unattended at some point,
• 35% of Colorado residents were unaware that “puffing” was illegal.
• 40% of Colorado resident know someone whose car was stolen, and
• Cars are most often stolen for parts, not the entire vehicle.
To deter crooks:
• Lock your vehicle and take the keys with you.
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even for a minute.
• Never hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight.
• Consider installing an anti-theft device such as an alarm, an immobilizing device (kill switch), or a tracing device (i.e. LoJack).
Additional information on Colorado auto thefts and “puffers” may be found on-line at www.lockdownyourcar.org.
