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300% Increase In Car Thefts With Spike In Recent Months

By Jennifer Brice

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- New details on a rise in car thefts in Douglas County. Thieves have gotten away with 162 cars this year according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, making it one of the top crimes in the county.

Deputies say the criminals are fairly young and coming from the north metro area to commit the crimes.
Deputies say the thieves are bold, even walking into open garages and stealing cars when people are home. In some cases, police have seen these criminals grab garage door openers from inside unlocked cars. The suspects will then come back to steal the car when it's least expected.

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(credit: CBS)

Mary Barone is a recent victim in Highlands Ranch. Her daughter's Volkswagen Jetta is destroyed after it was stolen from their driveway overnight. When deputies spotted the car minutes later, they say, the teenage thieves started a high speed chase to get away. Barone says she was told the speeds reached upwards of 100 mph.

"I was also told guns were being thrown out of my car that ended up in a crash on Wildcat and University," she adds. "That was the scary part for me, the fear that there were people in this neighborhood with guns that can hurt us and our neighbors."

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CBS4's Jennifer Brice interviews theft victim Mary Barone (credit: CBS)

The sheriff's office says this year there is a 300 percent increase in car thefts with a significant spike the past few months. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Steve Johnson says the people who live and work here are making it easy for the criminals by being too trusting with their property.

"Every time they (criminals) come down here, they're successful," says Johnson. "Every time they come down here these criminals are able to find an unlocked car, with a key in the visor, with a key in the center console and its jackpot for them."

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CBS4's Jennifer Brice interviews Douglas County Sheriff Deputy Chief Steve Johnson (credit: CBS)

Barone's car is a loss but she has advice so you don't become the next theft victim.

"Be vigilant," she warns. "Be on the lookout, talk to your neighbors and tell them what's going on."

Deputies recommend that you always lock your car, even when its inside a closed garage. They are seeing that thieves are also getting into garages from unlocked service doors.

dougco-auto-thefts
(credit: CBS)

Jennifer Brice is a reporter with CBS4 focusing on crime and courts. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @CBS4Jenn.

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