Puffer Car Caught On Video Being Stolen, Car Owner Jumps On Windshield
By Tom Mustin
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Cold weather is causing an alarming increase in crime -- specifically "puffer" thefts.
Denver police say as the temperatures drop more and more puffers are lining city streets. Puffers are vehicles left running with no one inside while the car warms up.
Jonathon didn't want to use his last name after becoming the latest puffer victim. The incident occurred near Peterson Road and Palmer Park Boulevard in Cimarron Hills.
"My car was moving and someone was in it," he said.
Tuesday morning Jonathon was in his car in Colorado Springs about to head to work.
"I decided to run back in, leave the keys in the car and feed the dog which would take a minute at the most."
Surveillance video captured what happened next. Jonathon heard a thump outside and saw his car back into a tree with a stranger behind the wheel.
"I jumped on the windshield and was hanging on to the wiper blades. He was trying to swerve to fling me off. Eventually he flung me off and scraped up my leg."
Police found the car a few hours later. The bandit got away.
Home surveillance video from Denver shows more bandits stealing a puffing Jeep.
Denver Police Cmdr. Rick Kyle says there have been several puffer thefts in the past month. Many times the criminals are using the stolen cars to commit other crimes. The numbers are staggering.
"Last year in 2015 we saw nearly 300 cars stolen that were unattended and running," he told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
And with more cold days ahead, Jonathon says he's learned his lesson.
"If I have to warm up my car again, I'm sitting in it with the doors locked, looking around the entire time, because I'm not taking any more chances."
Denver police want to remind everyone that puffing is illegal. Along with the possibility of theft, puffers also cause environmental concerns.
Kyle says the message is simple: "If you have to warm up your car, make sure you're sitting in it."
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
