Colorado’s a Vehicle-Theft Hot Spot. Here’s What You Need to Know

Here’s a statistic that none of us wants to hear: Colorado had the third-highest number of auto thefts per 100,000 people, in the United States with 430.0 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. That translates to 25,378 total vehicles stolen. And that was down from some previous years – our state was actually #1 in auto thefts in 2022. Actually down 24% from 2023 to 2024. But, still … Yikes!

The news isn’t all bad, because there are definite trends among brands of most- and least-stolen vehicles, and we’re very happy to see some of our great Ford products on that least-stolen list. 

Notably, the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Ford Explorer SUV were both among the 20 least-stolen vehicles nationwide. Sadly, the Ford F-250 and F-150 were on the list of most-stolen vehicles in Colorado. 

The range of locations from which vehicles disappear is almost endless, but the two that stand out from every other – as you might expect – are “Roads and streets,” and “Parking lots and garages.” Yeah – criminals go to where the supplies are greatest. No brainer. They also happen when you might expect: 8 p.m. to Midnight, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Midnight to 4 a.m. 

First, it’s important to reinforce that overall, vehicle thefts are declining. That’s a good thing. But it’s still too high. There are things that you, as a vehicle owner, can do to protect yourself from vehicle theft, whether you’re driving a least-stolen Ford Mustang Mach-E or Ford Explorer, or one of the models more favored by thieves:

• Park smart in well-lit areas, if possible.
• LOCK YOUR VEHICLE! Don’t leave your keys behind in or on the vehicle.
• Keep valuables hidden.
• Don’t EVER leave your running vehicle unattended.

There are also effective anti-theft devices. Not foolproof, but good deterrents:

• Alarms, flashing lights, steering-wheel locks, theft-deterrent decals. 
• Systems that interfere with efforts to hot-wire your vehicle, such as smart keys, electricity and fuel stops.
• Vehicle trackers, such as your GPS, “Find My” and similar deterrents.

Vehicle theft is a huge inconvenience and a major hit to the pocketbook. Colorado seems to be a magnet for theft, so now you know what you need to do. Our Schomp Ford staff can provide some help – just ask us.