# Auto theft increased by 144% in Colorado from 2011 to 2020 — the fastest rise in the nation **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498 "2023-05-08T20:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/1 "2023-05-08T20:08:13Z")
> **[Colorado moves to make all auto theft a felony, regardless of vehicle value](https://denvergazette.com/premium/auto-theft-felony-colorado-increase-penalty/article_c7806217-15b5-5caf-88aa-471228f35135.html?utm_source=dg-news-alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert)** > > If made law, Senate Bill 97 would remove Colorado's value-based system and make all auto thefts felonies. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/2 "2023-05-08T20:10:09Z")
WHY isn’t car theft _already_ a felony in Colorado?? Geez, is this an altitude sickness problem in Denver or what? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/3 "2023-05-08T20:46:31Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > WHY isn’t car theft _already_ a felony in Colorado?? +1 **If** –in fact–car theft isn’t a felony in CO, then that state is clearly in the minority. The usual term in other states (IIRC), is _Grand Theft Auto_, and by definition, Grand Theft is a felony. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/4 "2023-05-08T22:14:17Z")
No disagreement with Colorado SB 97. All auto thefts should be prosecuted as serious felonies imho. The charge & punishment should have nothing to do with the car’s value or lack thereof. In the pre-car era, 19th century, weren’t all horse thefts considered to be serious felonies? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/5 "2023-05-09T02:51:06Z")
Spose this has anything to do with legalizes pot? Or maybe the values deterioration prior to that? Chicken and egg. My nephew says you can smell it on the streets in Denver. Lawmakers doing the only thing they know how to do and expecting different results. Ya really think a 16 year old feral youth is going to be deterred? Geez they’re shooting each other. Think they care if it’s a felony? Of course we are not allowed to drill down to the real cause so don’t get your hopes up. Identification of the problem is 90% of the solution as they say. So just keep avoiding talking about the core problem. Maybe I got my numbers off a little but I think Chicago identified 375 people that were responsible for 10,000 arrests. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/6 "2023-05-09T15:13:28Z")
I never intended to steal that car. I’m only guilty of unauthorized borrowing… ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/7 "2023-05-09T16:38:11Z")
You would think weed smokers would be too laid back too steal cars. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/8 "2023-05-09T20:45:45Z")
> [@bing](#): > > anything to do with legalizes pot? Seems unlikely. Recreational use legal here in San Jose, but seldom noticed (except in college dorms presumably). I don’t even know where it is sold. A more likely theory is that Covid is adversely affecting businesses like movie theatres, restaurants, festivals, and this makes it harder for the unskilled to get a job earn a living wage. With nothing else to do, plenty of time on their hand, no money, some decide to steal a car. San Jose has been hosting a popular festival every year called Comic Con for many years. 2023’s version was just cancelled. > **[SiliCon, Silicon Valley’s pop culture and maker fest, canceled for 2023](https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/08/silicon-silicon-valleys-pop-culture-and-maker-fest-canceled-for-2023/)** > > The festival of all things science and geek had been scheduled for October in Santa Clara. “Due to unforeseen circumstances and challenges beyond our control, we have had to make this incredibly difficult decision,” organizers said in an e-mail announcement. “We have explored all possible options to proceed with the event, but unfortunately, it is not feasible at this time.” The lingering economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are part of the reason, and organizers cited a “significant disruption to public gatherings and events” and a “slow return to normalcy.” SiliCon CEO Trip Hunter said in an email that funding issues forced the decision, as the convention’s primary sponsors were nervous about the economy. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/9 "2023-05-10T03:47:16Z")
I identify as the cars owner there for no crime has been committed… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/10 "2023-05-10T04:01:07Z")
Sign on mcdonalds: now hiring, $16 per hour. Same nation wide. Feral kids, cats, young adults, aren’t looking for work. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/11 "2023-05-10T14:26:47Z")
When we first moved to NH back in the early 80’s, Auto theft wasn’t a felony in Massachusetts either. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/12 "2023-05-11T16:13:17Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > A more likely theory is that Covid is adversely affecting businesses like movie theatres, restaurants, festivals, and this makes it harder for the unskilled to get a job earn a living wage. With nothing else to do, plenty of time on their hand, no money, some decide to steal a car. We have the lowest unemployment in decades, and growing crime. Nationally there was less crime 20 years ago with higher unemployment rates. There is no correlation nor causality between poverty and criminal activity. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/13 "2023-05-11T16:52:16Z")
I think there’s a correlation between COVID disruption of the educational system, particularly lawless high level politicians setting a bad example, and young people going feral. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-theft-increased-by-144-in-colorado-from-2011-to-2020-the-fastest-rise-in-the-nation/190498/15 "2023-05-11T23:54:26Z")
I bet far more of the car thieves in CO are knuckle-headed American teenagers than immigrants.