String of ‘puffing’ cars stolen following big snow in Colorado
Scharfsinn86
Winter weather is upon us! Here’s the latest example of why police are warning drivers against “puffing,” or leaving vehicles running unattended.
The big snowstorm that hit Colorado starting Sunday evening into Monday has led to several vehicle thefts in the Denver metro area. Three puffing cases have been reported to the Denver Police Department so far this morning, with 28 traffic crashes. The Colorado Springs Police Department has received more than 180 calls this year involving puffing vehicles. Of those calls, 35 have resulted in tickets.
Not too bad, #Denver — between midnight and 9:30 AM, we only had 28 traffic crash reports and just 3 stolen puffer reports. Not too bad at all… #Snow #cotraffic #SnowGoingIsBetterThanNoGoing #SlowAndSteadyWinsTheSnowDay pic.twitter.com/xbdf5onjVB — Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 28, 2019
It is illegal to leave vehicles running while unattended in Colorado. If caught puffing, you could face fines up to $60. The only exception is for remote starters, which must be kept a safe distance away.
“Puffing” is a Colorado Class B traffic infraction per CRS § 42-4-1206 with a $60 fine. https://t.co/NeUdmee7Q9 https://t.co/YGLBIDDMrH — Chief Wolfhound (@DeMelaatse) October 10, 2019
Before we move into AM rush hour, we want to remind you to not leave your car running unattended. We’ve already received a report of a stolen puffer this morning — let’s keep that stat at 1 for the day. We know a cold car is miserable, but cold car > no car. #Denver #Snow pic.twitter.com/XDu9Ka09MN — Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 28, 2019
The greatest majority of auto thefts reported in Colorado for 2018 took place in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Pueblo, and Lakewood. Among these thefts, the most targeted vehicles include Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Ford F-250, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Dodge RAM, Ford F-350, Subaru Legacy, GMC Sierra, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Criminals look for easy targets, especially during the winter season. Never leave your vehicle running unattended while warming up. Not even for a few minutes. For more tips on preventing auto theft this winter, click here.