Hondas Are Hot With Auto Thieves In Denver
DENVER (CBS4) - There's a car theft epidemic in Denver with hundreds of vehicles stolen in just the past few months, and thieves have a very specific target -- Hondas.
Michael Sanchez has had his Honda stolen several times. Crooks have taken everything from CDs to his son's high chair. Every time he gets his car back, it gets taken again. Denver police say his story is one that's shared by hundreds of Honda owners across the metro area.
Sanchez's 1995 Honda Accord has been stolen three times in the past few years. A fourth attempt ended when the crooks couldn't start the car.
"It's been stolen out of the driveway. On the fourth attempt it was sitting right where it's at now (on the road)," Sanches said. "I'm like, 'A 95 Honda Accord; what would you want with this thing?' "
Lt. Jeff Martinez with Denver police isn't surprised.
"We have hundreds of these vehicles that have been taken," he said.
Martinez said dozens of Hondas are stolen every month in Denver. The cars have valuable parts and are relatively easy to steal -- knowledge that crooks have passed along to their fellow thieves.
"It's a vehicle that people have learned how to take and they share that information with others," Martinez said.
Sanchez showed CBS4's Tom Mustin why his car is an attractive target.
"All they have to do is pop the ignition, get a screwdriver, and it starts the car," he said.
During his demonstration, Mustin and photojournalist Michael Abeyta found a screwdriver and another tool sitting on Sanchez's outside dash -- apparently crooks had left the tools after being spooked while trying to steal Sanchez's Honda again.
"These are not mine," he said.
Meanwhile, Sanchez has a message for the thieves who've made Denver Hondas an endangered species.
"Get a job, buy your own car. Do something productive in society," he said.
The Denver Police Department offers free The Clubs to prevent auto thefts to car owners who qualify. The car must be in the Top 10 stolen cars in Denver and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact your local police district for more information.
