Lakewood Police offer car theft prevention program for residents

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) – Lakewood Police are inviting the public to participate in a new program that includes free tools to combat auto theft.

“The police department has basically received a grant and now we are trying to make the cars more secure so they are harder to steal or have a deterrent effect,” said Sergeant Steve Boatwright of the LPD’s auto theft team.

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On Saturday, LPD hosted a free event to help people get started. People like Belinda Blake and Sally Snyder know firsthand how quickly someone can steal a car.

Blake recalled receiving a panicked call from her neighbor on May 21 telling her her car had been stolen.

“It was raining and cold and she had to go to the doctor’s office,” Blake said. “She couldn’t drive to the doctor’s office because of construction, so she parked on the side of the road. She swore she locked the door and when she came back, her car was gone.”

When Blake answered the call, Snyder was crying and her heart sank. She told Snyder to check if her dealership had put a tracking device in her car, then drove off to pick her up.

“I walked across the street to Safeway and immediately reported it to the police,” Snyder said.

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She added that her car dealer told her she could activate her tracker and give police its location because her car was a newer Subaru. Within two hours, the LPD found her car, she said.

“I’m so happy she got her car back, it really meant a lot to her,” Blake said of the car her husband gave to Snyder before his death.

The incident was still fresh in their minds when the police department’s Auto Theft Reduction and Recovery Program was launched. Snyder urged all of her neighbors to come to the event on Saturday and have their cars outfitted with a small GPS tracking device, such as the Apple Air Tag or a Tile tracker. They should also hang a baton over their steering wheel and put a window sticker to deter potential car thieves.

“Hopefully they’ll look at this and move on to something else,” Boatwright said.

Boatwright added that while the tracking devices can’t prevent a car from being stolen, they can help law enforcement find a car more quickly. The device can be synced to the driver’s phone. Police don’t have access to this information unless the driver shares it with them.

“We just help with the installation,” Boatwright said. “If their car gets stolen, they have to release it, just like with the Apple programs where you can release ‘Find My iPhone’ and things like that. It’s the same thing.”

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Police said this is a step to combat auto theft in the state of Colorado. The state may be first in the country, but according to a report from the Colorado Department of Public Safety, auto thefts have dropped by 21%. According to the report, 32,976 stolen vehicles were reported in Colorado in 2023, compared to 41,656 in 2022.

Now, the LPD said officers hope to continue this trend. They also encourage others to make an appointment with their department to gain access to these tools, which will help prevent car theft and quickly recover the car if it is stolen.

Meanwhile, LPD reported that the walk-in event had a good turnout and staff helped 105 people better protect their cars from theft.

“It’s nice to see that people care,” Boatwright said. “They’re actively helping to make sure their car doesn’t get stolen or that they get it back really quickly.”

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